Aggiornamento 18/08/2026

Tracing the Epigravettian in southern Italy. Faunal exploitation in layer M of Grotta della Cala (Cilento, Italy), di C. Dominici, M. Rossini, A. Tomasso, A. Moroni, F. Boschin, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 390, 15 october 2026, article: 110169 - open access -

Grotta della Cala (Camerota, Campania) is a key site in southern Italy from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Metal Age. Regarding the Upper Palaeolithic, a thick sequence has been preserved in the cave, including Epigravettian layers traditionally attributed to the evolved and the final phases. In this paper, we present the zooarchaeological analysis of the faunal assemblage from layer M (dated between 20,203 and 15,784 cal BP), to shed light on the subsistence strategies of the human groups inhabiting the area during the Greenland Stadial 2. The faunal assemblage included in this study consists of the materials retrieved during the 1967-68 and the 1974 excavation campaigns. The ungulate remains from the 1967-68 assemblage are here reassessed, while new data on carnivores and small mammals are presented. The 1974 assemblage, the larger of the two, is published here for the first time. The taphonomic analysis revealed an intensive exploitation of the carcasses. A correlation was observed between the representation of body parts in red deer (Cervus elaphus), the most abundant taxon, and their alimentary utility. (…)

Neanderthals in the desert? Population history best explains Middle Palaeolithic technological heterogeneity in Arabia, di J. Blinkhorn et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 390, 15 october 2026, article: 110196 - open access -

Northeast Africa and Southwest Asia present a rich record of hominin occupations between ca. 100 and 50 thousand years ago (ka) at a critical biogeographic crossroads, with differences in physical landscapes, environmental responses to climate change, and varied population histories contributing to archaeological diversity. Research in Arabia has identified previously unexplained technological heterogeneity amongst stone tool assemblages. To investigate this pattern, we compiled a database of Levallois blank attributes to quantify patterns of variability observed across sites in Northeast Africa, Arabia, and the Levant. A range of alternate explanations for variability within this comparative dataset are explored using Simple Mantel tests and Multiple Matrix regressions including assemblage age, landscape setting, palaeoenvironmental conditions, assemblage size, composition and raw material use, site type, and population history. The results highlight that shape variability in Levallois blanks across the region is best explained by differences in population history. (…)

Technological variability and raw material procurement in the Cantabrian Lower Magdalenian: Level G1 at El Cierro Cave (Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain), di D. Herrero-Alonso et alii, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 9, september 2026, article number 183 - open access -

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the lithic assemblage from Level G1 of El Cierro Cave (northern Spain), attributed to the Cantabrian Lower Magdalenian. The study comprises 2,829 items, including 2,800 knapped artefacts, six macrolithic tools and 23 unmodified pebbles. Lithic procurement is dominated by flint, followed by quartzite and minor amounts of quartz. Eleven flint types have been identified, with local raw materials prevailing, while regional and tracer groups occur in lower proportions, indicating selective long-distance connections within the Basque-Cantabrian Basin. Technological analysis reveals complete operational chains for flake production using locally available resources, alongside greater variability in laminar reduction strategies. Blade production is limited and clearly subordinate to flake-oriented technologies. (…)

Impacted Bones: Can Extant Primates Help Identify Tool Use in Early Hominins?, di R. M. Hurwitz, K. Almeida-Warren, S. Carvalho, T. A. Püschel, "Evolutionary Anthropology", volume 35, issue 3, september 2026, e70042 - open access -

Despite recent advances pushing back the earliest record of tool use, how and when it first emerged in hominins, and the extent to which it featured amongst the numerous co-existing species, remain critical questions in paleoanthropology. In addition to analyzing fossils and lithic toolkits, novel strides in understanding this might be made by studying the skeletons of the great apes, as well as more distantly related tool-using primates and applying resultant findings to the fossil record via predictive modelling. We review current methods of extrapolating tool-use capabilities in extinct and extant taxa and provide an innovative methodological framework to analyze osteological remains for evidence of percussive tool use, using chimpanzees as a case study. We propose a shift in current methodological practice, wherein both sides of the body, rather than just one, should be routinely scanned to understand of the effect percussive tool use on primate bone. Key species, including long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis ssp.), capuchins (Sapajus and Cebus sp.) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ssp.), all of whom engage in lithic percussion, should be the work's focus. (…)

The Early Homo Conundrum: Challenges and Potential Solutions, di C. Zanolli et alii, "Evolutionary Anthropology", volume 35, issue 3, september 2026, e70043 - open access -

In September 2025, 23 scholars met at a workshop in Bordeaux (France) organized by the University of Bordeaux and the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, to present and discuss their views on the origins and earliest phases of the evolution of the genus Homo. The workshop, entitled “The early Homo conundrum—Challenges and potential solutions” (hereafter “eH25”) took place a few months after the 25th anniversary of the publication of Wood and Collard's seminal papers published in 1999 and close to the 10th anniversary of the publication of the Ledi-Geraru mandible [1]. The possible origin of the genus was pushed back in time, from c. 1.9 Ma for Homo habilis from Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania [2], to 2.8 Ma by the discovery of the LD 350-1 partial mandible from Ledi-Geraru in Ethiopia attributed to Homo sp. (…)

Great Pan Farm: a refined chronology for Late Middle Palaeolithic re-occupation in Britain, di M. J. Grant, P. Marshall, "Quaternary International", volume 775, 1 september 2026, 110033

Site investigations at Great Pan Farm on the Isle of Wight, Britain, have revealed evidence for Late Middle Palaeolithic (LMP) occupation during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5, as reported by Shaw et al., 2025. This significantly pre-dates the accepted chronology which suggests that re-occupation of Britain occurred during late MIS 4/3. In addition to this early LMP activity, two further LMP occupations are recorded from the overlying deposits. The chronology of the site is determined by luminescence dating. However, the dates were presented with little critical analysis and no attempts to utilise chronological modelling to confirm and constrain the age of these occupation levels. We demonstrate how chronological modelling provides a more robust estimate of the age of this site, suggesting that LMP occupation occurred in late MIS 5 followed by a possible period of abandonment during MIS 4, with reoccupation of the site during late MIS 4/3c. The revised chronology suggests alignment of Great Pan Farm with the LMP record of hominin occupation in NW Europe during MIS 5 to 3. (…)

Paleogenomic sex inference of mammoth remains sheds light on the anthropogenic nature of bone accumulations, di H. M. Moots et alii, "Current Biology", volume 36, issue 16, pp. 4233-4242.e4, 17 august 2026 - open access -

Whether large accumulations of woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) bones reflect natural mortality or deliberate human resource exploitation has long been debated, with major implications for understanding Late Pleistocene human-megafaunal interactions. Here, we use ancient DNA to investigate site-formation hypotheses by comparing genetic sex ratios from mammoth remains recovered in putative anthropogenic bone accumulations and from geographically dispersed, non-anthropogenic contexts. We studied genome-wide data from 521 woolly mammoths—including 100 mammoths from bone accumulation sites and 421 mammoths from natural depositional settings across Eurasia and North America—of which 448 are newly generated. Genetic sex determination reveals a striking contrast between contexts: mammoths from dispersed sites show a male bias (~66.5%), which is consistent with the heightened vulnerability of solitary males to hazards such as natural traps, where bones are more likely to be preserved, whereas mammoths from anthropogenic bone accumulations are predominantly female (~70%). (...)

Jomon genomics reveal cold adaptation in Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers of eastern Eurasia, di Y. Watanabe et alii, "Science Advances", 12 aug 2026, vol 12, issue 33 - open access -

How did Homo sapiens thrive in extreme environments during their dispersal across Eurasia? Unraveling adaptations that enabled human survival during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) remains critical. Here, we analyze 42 genomes from Holocene hunter-gatherers (Jomon) in the Japanese archipelago, revealing their deep ancestry from an isolated Upper Paleolithic (UP) East Eurasian lineage. We detect gene flow from northern UP Siberians into Jomon, reconciling long-standing debates between bioanthropology and archaeology regarding East Asian peopling. We find no Jomon-specific Denisovan ancestry, suggesting shared introgression before their LGM divergence from mainlanders. Furthermore, we find evidence consistent with cold adaptation in Jomon UP ancestry, highlighting diverse physiological pathways. Our study provides one of the first paleogenomic frameworks for investigating ancient adaptations in UP East Eurasians, revealing an evolutionary legacy from a colder past in present-day humans. (…)

Insights into hominin body size, locomotion, and behavior from Early Pleistocene trackways in northern Kenya, di K. G. Hatala et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 4 august 2026, vol. 123, no. 31e2530996123

The Early Pleistocene fossils of the Koobi Fora Formation, northern Kenya, record two well-documented hominin genera, Homo and Paranthropus, preserved in the same deposits. Evidence for their ecological sympatry consists of co-occurring footprints of diverse morphologies, suggesting that Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei were present in the same lake margin habitats over hundreds of thousands of years. Here, we report on a ~1.43 Ma fossil footprint assemblage that sheds light on Early Pleistocene hominin paleobiology and behavior. The internal morphologies of the hominin tracks align with others previously attributed to P. boisei, indicating patterns of foot morphology and locomotion different from modern Homo and more consistent with those seen in earlier Australopithecus species. However, the tracks indicate body sizes that exceed the largest skeletal estimates for P. boisei, raising the possibility that they may belong to H. erectus. (…)

Dietary Adaptation in Paranthropus robustus Postcanine Teeth, di M. C. O'Hara et alii, "American Journal of Biological Anthropology", volume 190, issue 4, august 2026 - open access -

Recent studies of Paranthropus robustus crania identified temporal trends in features associated with increased bite force production, coinciding with environmental shifts toward more arid conditions. To test whether the evolution of postcanine teeth also reflects increasing mechanical demands associated with hard food consumption, we analyzed trends in the architecture of P. robustus postcanine teeth, including crown area, tooth shape, and average (AET) and relative (RET) enamel thickness. 2D mesial sections were created from microCT scans of upper premolars (n = 24), upper molars (n = 14), and lower molars (n = 16) from multiple South African sites. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U tests, and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests were used to identify significant differences over time, with Holm-Bonferroni corrections applied for multiple comparisons. Significant temporal trends existed in premolar morphology with increased crown area (CA), absolute crown strength (ACS), overall enamel thickness (AET and RET), and increased enamel thickness over the occlusal half of the tooth. Upper molars increased in CA but no other measured variable. Lower molars showed no significant temporal trends in any measured variable. (…)

Missing Landmark Estimation Using Reverse Engineering: Challenges and Potential Solutions for the Study of Hominin Long Bones, di L. A. Courtenay, J. Aramendi, "American Journal of Biological Anthropology", volume 190, issue 4, august 2026 - open access -

Fragmentary preservation represents a fundamental limitation in palaeoanthropological research, particularly for postcranial elements where symmetry cannot be exploited and large portions of bone are frequently missing. Although a wide range of virtual reconstruction methods exist, many rely on strong anatomical priors, localized interpolation, or reference specimens that risk biasing reconstructions toward predefined morphologies. The present study introduces a new approach for estimating the coordinates of missing landmarks, termed the Reverse Engineering (RE) approach. This method establishes mathematical relationships between morphological patterns observed in complete reference specimens and those preserved in reduced portions of each bone, allowing missing regions to be inferred from patterns of covariation rather than local geometric proximity. We demonstrate that the RE approach performs consistently across a range of reconstruction scenarios, including cases where substantial portions of bone are missing, and in empirical applications to Neanderthal femoral and humeral specimens. Importantly, reconstructed specimens retain morphological signal in subsequent morphometric analyses, regardless of the extent of missing data. (…)

Conservation of the Shanidar Z Neanderthal, di L. López-Polín et alii, "Antiquity", issue 412, august 2026

Conservation of fragile and fragmented archaeological remains can be essential to their preservation and study. Here, the authors use the example of the approximately 75 000-year-old Shanidar Z Neanderthal to illustrate the importance of appropriate conservation from excavation to the laboratory, and of the detailed documentation of this process, for enabling anatomical and taphonomic research. (...)

Using bone retouchers in the early Middle Palaeolithic. First application of a multi-proxy approach to Biache-Saint-Vaast (MIS 7), di M. P. Vignes et alii, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 8, august 2026, article number 177

In recent years, the number of studies on bone tools from Middle Palaeolithic contexts has increased considerably. Mainly identified as retouchers and predominantly documented during the transition from the Middle to the Upper Palaeolithic, around 50 to 40 ka BP, these bone tools provide key insights into Homo neanderthalensis behaviour. The bone tool assemblage from Biache-Saint-Vaast (Pas-de-Calais, northern France, MIS 7), although never studied in detail, is one of the largest known for early Neanderthal occupations in northern France. Several approaches can be applied to the study of bone artefacts, particularly those focusing on raw material management and techno-functional aspects. Owing to the exceptional preservation of its surfaces, the Biache-Saint-Vaast material is especially well-suited for testing different analytical techniques. (…)

Chert procurement for inferring Neanderthal mobility in central western Iberia, di T. Pereira et alii, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 8, august 2026, article number 176 - open access -

Lithic raw material sourcing is one of the most effective approaches for inferring exploitation territories during the Palaeolithic, including for Neanderthals. Certain raw materials, particularly chert, are especially well suited to this type of investigation because the distinctive characteristics of each geological source can be reliably identified through a combination of macroscopic observation, low-magnification analysis, and geochemical methods. With that in mind we questioned if chert sourcing would allow identification of territorial patterns for the Neanderthal populations of central Portugal, in western-most Iberia. To answer that question, we conducted an exploratory study comparing archaeological cherts from Gruta Nova da Columbeira, Praia Rei Cortiço and Mira Nascente with geological samples from nearby sources using macroscopic, low-magnification PIXE and pXRF analysis. (…)

Technological strategies and morphometric variation in MSA pointed tools from Gademotta and Kulkuletti (280–180 ka), Main Ethiopian Rift, di M. Gebremichael, L. A. Courtenay, Y. Beyene, A. Delagnes, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 8, august 2026, article number 171

Pointed tools are common throughout the Acheulean–Middle Stone Age (MSA: ~300–35 ka) transition and are often considered a hallmark of the MSA. Produced through different reduction systems, they provide an opportunity to examine whether variation in lithic reduction strategies is associated with differences in tool morphology and volumetric properties. To address this, we analyze 115 complete pointed tools from Gademotta (ETH-72-8B) and Kulkuletti (ETH-72-1) in the Main Ethiopian Rift (c. 280–182 ka). We combine technological analysis with morpho-volumetric measures (Tip Cross-Sectional Area and Perimeter) and geometric morphometric approaches, including Elliptic Fourier Analysis (EFA) applied to 2D and pseudo-3D outlines derived from 3D models. Despite clear technological differences between assemblages, morphometric analyses reveal extensive overlap. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identifies no discrete shape categories, and multivariate regressions indicate weak allometric effects. (…)

The adaptive nature of Neanderthal discoidal technology: raw material constraints and technological variation during the late Mousterian of southwestern France, di P. Zhang, B. Gravina, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 8, august 2026, article number 168

Understanding how Neanderthals adapted lithic technologies to varying environmental and raw-material conditions is fundamental to exploring their behavioural variability over time and space. Here we investigate this question via a quantitative techno-typological comparison of two late Middle Paleolithic discoidal assemblages from southwestern France – Le Moustier and Pech de l’Azé IV. Our results show that Neanderthal groups at both sites employed a highly similar chaîne opératoire typical of Discoid-Denticulate Mousterian assemblages, despite contrasting raw material quality and nodule size, as well as pronounced environmental instability during Marine Isotope Stage 3. Neanderthal technological responses to varying raw material conditions primarily involved adjustments in reduction intensity rather than shifts in flake production methods. (…)

Edge Sharpness Does Not Vary Between Palaeolithic Flake Technologies, With the Possible Exception of Levallois Débitage, di A. Mika, A. Key, "Archaeometry", volume 68, issue 4, august 2026, pages 674-686 - open access -

Investigating why hominins adopted particular flake technologies during the Mid-to-Late Pleistocene is essential to understanding patterns of lithic innovation. This period witnessed the emergence of Levallois technologies (~350–250 ka) and later blades, each “replacing” earlier forms. While prior studies have emphasised technological efficiency and utility, comparative assessments of functional performance—particularly edge sharpness—are limited. The controlled cutting experiment conducted here broadly reveals no significant differences in sharpness between expedient, Levallois, blade and bladelet flakes; however, Levallois débitage displayed significantly blunter edges. These results suggest functional limitations to débitage and imply edge sharpness did not drive flake technological change. (…)

Farewell to Behavioural Modernity? Homo sapiens in the Middle Stone Age, di K. Sterelny, P. Dixon Hiscock, "Cambridge Archaeological Journal", volume 36, issue 3, august 2026, pp. 259 - 271 - open access -

An enduring challenge for the human evolutionary sciences is to integrate the palaeoanthropological record of human evolution and speciation with the archaeological record of change and differentiation in hominin lifeways. The simplest hypothesis, and therefore an attractive hypothesis, is that change is made possible by, and reflects, evolutionary change in the capacity of individual humans. The very long-term trend of increasing diversity and sophistication of technical and social lifeways (albeit with noise and periods of stasis) reflects long-term trends of increasing cognitive capacity linked to bipedality, followed by body size increase, encephalization and slow life history. We suggest instead that the long-term trend sees a gradual decoupling of human lifeways from the intrinsic capacities of individual people. We develop this view through an analysis of the Middle Stone Age and behavioural modernity, arguing that these depend on mosaics of social and individual factors, none clearly connected to specific evolved changes in individual humans. (…)

Reevaluating Hand Stencil Phenomena in Cave Art: A Step Forward towards the Characterization of Symbolic Patterns during the Upper Palaeolithic in Europe, di V. Fernández-Navarro, O. Spaey, D. Garate, "Cambridge Archaeological Journal", volume 36, issue 3, august 2026, pp. 272-292

Among the most recurring motifs in the prehistoric rock-art corpus, handprints stand out as one of the most significant elements due to their dual nature, both artistic and fossil. These markings represent a unique source of information for characterizing the corresponding artists and the social and cultural context of prehistoric communities. This study focuses on a comprehensive characterization of the phenomenon of Upper Palaeolithic hand representations from a multidimensional perspective, combining various theoretical and methodological approaches. By offering a holistic view, the aim is to contextualize these artistic expressions within a broader framework that includes biological, social, cultural, spatial and technological considerations. The study revisits classical documentation on hand representations and brings new perspectives through experiments and analyses conducted under conditions that replicate, as closely as possible, the physical and technological characteristics of the Upper Palaeolithic. (…)

Shared foraging behaviors between hyenas and hominins in the Middle Paleolithic Levant: New evidence from Geula Cave, Israel, di M. Orbach et alii, "Journal of Quaternary Science", volume 41, issue 6, august 2026, pages 896-914 - open access -

While competition with large carnivores is likely to have shaped Middle Paleolithic hominins' subsistence behavior, palimpsested human and carnivore accumulations render the signal challenging to isolate. This study presents a detailed zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of a non-anthropogenic faunal assemblage from a MIS 5 (~130–80 ka) hyena den and porcupine lair at Geula Cave (Mount Carmel, Israel). The assemblage features abundant hyena and porcupine remains, pervasive gnawing, and negligible anthropogenic impact, which we draw on to assess human–carnivore interaction (or resource use). The ungulate assemblage is diverse and similar to that of contemporaneous anthropogenic assemblages, implying significant hunting-niche overlap. (…)

Fire, temperature control, and silcrete heat treatment at Diepkloof and Mertenhof Rock Shelters, West Coast, South Africa, di W. Archer et alii, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 217, august 2026, article: 103853

Transformative technologies that alter raw material properties, rather than just raw material shape and size, are key proxies for the evolution of human cognition and social learning. Silcrete heat treatment in the southern African Middle Stone Age (MSA) is one such proxy. Yet debate now centers not on whether heat treatment occurred in the African MSA but on how it was organized across settings—from controlled insulated setups to embedded hearth-side practices—and how factors such as raw material properties and fire management conditioned those choices. In this study, we argue that archaeological heating-temperature distributions for silcretes provide a proxy for reconstructing fire-use contexts, which in turn allow inference of how heat treatment was organized within broader domestic and social practices. We apply a nondestructive near-infrared protocol—targeting changes in silanol (SiOH) and molecular water (H2O)—to estimate heating temperatures for Howiesons Poort artefacts from Diepkloof and Mertenhof Rock Shelters. As calibration, we use a dataset comprising 225 observations on silcrete flakes heated to prespecified temperatures, which underpins both categorical classification and continuous temperature prediction for the archaeological collection. (…)

Bone retouchers and end-scrapers side by side at Bushman Rock Shelter: Exploring a ca. 100,000-year-old technological imbrication in southern Africa, di A. Val et alii, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 217, august 2026, article: 103845 - open access -

A growing body of archaeological data points towards distinct cultural innovations during Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 5 in Africa. At Bushman Rock Shelter in South Africa, we described previously a large corpus of end-scrapers that constitute a technological novelty in the context of MIS 5 developments. Here, we describe 25 bones with impressions collected from the same deposits. Middle Stone Age layers at the site represent a succession of distinct technological phases, but the bones with impressions are strictly associated with one of them only, characterised by the presence of end-scrapers. Our refined optically stimulated luminescence and U-series chronology, presented here, dates securely this technological association to 103 ± 3 ka. Amongst the bones with impressions, there is a marked preference for the diaphyses of large ungulate long bones. Scraping marks linked to periosteum removal and evidence of fresh breakage indicate the use of bones while still fresh. Macro- and microscopic characteristics of the used areas confirm that the bones were used during percussive activities. (…)

The Omo-Turkana Basin fossil record as a milestone toward a comprehensive database of the hominin fossil record online, di D. Reed, F. Marchal, E. Coco, S. Prat, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 217, august 2026, article: 103857

A comprehensive and accurate database of the human fossil record is a necessity for synthetic understanding of hominin biological and behavioral evolution, yet it has remained an elusive goal for decades. This paper presents a conceptual framework for an online database of the human fossil record, called Origins, and an implementation of that framework for the 1200+ hominin fossils of the Omo-Turkana Basin of northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. The Omo-Turkana Basin is one of the largest and most significant hominin fossil assemblages in Africa and marks the first major milestone in developing a comprehensive database for the entire hominin fossil record globally. We discuss the theoretical foundation underlying the conceptual model used for Origins, the technical details for the establishment and utilization of Origins, and the roadmap for future and ongoing development of this resource. (…)

The hearth of the matter: A high-resolution magnetic microarchaeological study of a Neanderthal combustion feature utilizing Quantum Diamond Microscopy, di A. Dinçkal et alii, "Journal of Archaeological Science", volume 192, august 2026, article: 106612 - open access -

This study presents an integrative geoarchaeological and microarchaeological case study of combustion features, employing a multi-method analytical approach incorporating archaeomagnetic, rock magnetic, and soil micromorphological methods, alongside Quantum Diamond Microscopy (QDM). The case study focuses on a combustion feature from the Middle Palaeolithic site of El Salt (80 to 45.2ka). The primary aim is to reconstruct the depositional and post-depositional history of this combustion feature, identifying human activities and environmental processes using high-resolution magnetic and micromorphological data. The combustion feature H89/90 was studied as part of the research into a large palimpsest of combustion features located within Unit XI. Archaeomagnetic and rock magnetic microarchaeological analyses of the combustion feature demonstrates that it is relatively well-preserved and in situ. (…)

Searching for reds and yellows at a Magdalenian open-air site: continuities and discontinuities at Pincevent (France) levels IV20 and IV0, di A. Chassin de Kergommeaux, M. Rossi, C. Peschaux, E. Chalmin, W. Bouits, H. Salomon, "Journal of Archaeological Science", volume 192, august 2026, article: 106636 - open access -

Colouring materials, serving versatile functions, are common in Upper Palaeolithic sites. At Pincevent, Level IV0, these materials were used both to produce pigment powders and to manufacture a unique type of artefact: perforated discs. This specific production likely influenced the strategies for acquiring colouring materials. A comparison of provenance studies from levels IV0 and IV20 at Pincevent, dating to the Late Magdalenian (15–14 ka cal BP) and separated by less than a century, reveals complex strategies of acquisition, selection, and use, reflecting both local adaptation and long-distance exchange networks. The comprehensive petrological approach adopted here enables precise provenance identification and offers a framework for broader investigations of resource acquisition across both time and space. It demonstrates a dual procurement system combining locally sourced ferruginous sandstones from Ypresian formations with non-local raw materials—such as oolitic hematites, ferruginised crinoidal limestones, and massive hematites—transported over distances exceeding 200 km either north-west towards Normandy or south-east towards the Saone-Rhône valleys. (…)

Bone collagen hydrogen isotopes as tracers of local palaeoclimate: The Aurignacian from Isturitz cave (France) as a case study, di M. Ibáñez-Herranz et alii, "Journal of Archaeological Science", volume 192, august 2026, article: 106644 - open access -

Hydrogen stable isotopes (δ2H) preserved in bone collagen have been proposed as a promising proxy for palaeoclimatic reconstruction, though empirical applications remain limited. We performed multi-isotopic analyses to evaluate the reliability and scope of this approach, integrating novel δ2H data with recently published δ13C, δ15N and δ34S, on 50 herbivore bone samples collected from three archaeostratigraphic layers spanning the Aurignacian sequence of Isturitz Cave (France). This archaeological, well-preserved, dated and studied site provides a robust framework for testing isotopic proxies across temporal and taxonomic gradients. Our results reveal a progressive δ2H decline over ∼3000-year interval, broadly consistent with regional paleoenvironmental records indicating cooling and a shift towards drier conditions, but in contrast with previously proposed local climate changes. (...)

40,000-year-old bird carvings provide clues to how ice age humans flourished, di E. Callaway, "Nature", News Feature, 29 july 2026

It’s 35 °C in the shade, amid Europe’s June heatwave, and Alexander Janas has just emerged from Hohle Fels Cave in southwestern Germany, where the mercury reads 9 or 10 °C. “It’s wonderful to be inside,” says Janas, an archaeologist at the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment in Tübingen, Germany. It isn’t just the cool cave air that draws Janas and other archaeologists into Hohle Fels each summer. Over the past three decades, they have dug up one jaw-dropping find after another. These include expertly crafted objects such as the world’s oldest human figurine — the 40,000-year-old ‘Venus of Hohle Fels’ — and the earliest known musical instruments. The artworks provide a window into the minds of some of Europe’s earliest Homo sapiens. Associated with a period called the Aurignacian, they are among the first humans known to leave behind depictions of their world. “We can almost look through the eyes of the Aurignacian people and see how they viewed the environment around them,” says Amy Clark, a palaeolithic archaeologist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (…)

Handaxe Differentiation in the Late Middle Paleolithic of Southwestern France: Insights from Morphology, Technology, and Function, di M. Deschamps et alii, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, 28 july 2026, article number 27

During the Late Middle Paleolithic (LMP; 120–40 ka) in Europe, bifacial tool production expanded significantly, particularly during late MIS 5 (90–80 ka) and the first half of MIS 3 (60–45 ka). These bifacial industries have traditionally been interpreted as reflecting a small number of broad morphological types, supporting the existence of macro-regional cultural entities among Neanderthal groups. One such entity is the Mousterian of Acheulean Tradition (MTA), originally thought to extend across southwestern France from the Loire River to the Pyrenean foothills. However, recent research has questioned the homogeneity of MIS 3 assemblages within the Aquitaine region, suggesting potential regional subdivisions. To explore this possibility, we analyzed 213 bifaces from 10 archaeological sites assigned to MIS 5 or MIS 3 and located in either northern or southern Aquitaine. (…)

Long-term cultural continuity across the Neanderthal–modern human sequence at Üçağızlı II Cave, northern Levant, di İ. Baykara et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 21 july 2026, vol. 123, no. 29 e2609061123

We present evidence from Üçağızlı II Cave in the northern Levant, Türkiye, documenting the sequential occupation by Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis; 77–59 ka) and modern humans (Homo sapiens; 59–47 ka). The combined evidence of human fossils, faunal and floral remains, lithics, and manuports demonstrates significant behavioral and technological continuity across this taxonomic sequence, characterized by consistent subsistence strategies and the persistent selection and transport of specific nondietary mollusk shells. The lithic assemblages largely align with late Middle Paleolithic traditions, exhibiting characteristic Mousterian variants. The association of diagnostic human fossils with these archaeological remains demonstrates that the shift from Neanderthals to modern humans occurred within a cultural continuum. (…)

Decoding Acheulean Percussive Technology: Experimental Approach to Understanding Use-wear Traces in Different Raw Materials, di E. Paixão, T. Gossa, J. Marreiros, W. Gneisinger, E. Hovers, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, 17 july 2026, article number 26 - open access -

The study of percussive technologies is crucial for understanding the cognitive and adaptive capacities of early hominins in all archaeological periods. Percussive technologies of early hominins testify to a large range of daily activities and serve as a source of information on raw material selection and tool-use strategies. These technologies also inform on the broader economic, social, and technical organisation of early hominin societies. While Acheulean assemblages document an increase in the variability of lithic raw materials and tool types used for percussion activities compared to the Oldowan, the functional significance of such changes remains understudied. By experimentally assessing the effects of percussive actions on different raw materials, this study aims to advance our understanding and ability to identify use-wear traces related to bone percussion during the Acheulean, providing a reference that directly contributes to the study of the Melka Wakena site complex in Ethiopia. (…)

Identifying Expert-Made Handaxes from the Amanzi Springs Acheulian Site (South Africa) Using Elastic Net Multinomial Logistic Regression, di M. V. Caruana, C. G. Wilson, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, 14 july 2026, article number 25 - open access -

Examining technical skill in the production of large cutting tools (i.e., handaxes and cleavers) has provided valuable insight into the sources of technological and morphological variation observed in Acheulian lithic assemblages. Yet differentiating artefacts according to levels of skilled performance remains challenging and hinders our ability to study the representation of knapping competencies in the archaeological record. Here, we employ multinomial logistic regression with elastic net regularization to identify expert-made handaxes from Amanzi Springs, where these tools are largely characterized by production mishaps and amorphous forms. We use replica handaxes produced by a modern, master knapper as a reference for craft expertise, by which the classification probabilities of archaeological handaxes are compared. Our results find five handaxes from Amanzi Springs that were likely produced by expert knappers during the Middle Pleistocene, which supports the use of this statistical method towards investigating questions of classification in archaeological research. (…)

Exploring Uluzzian Lithic Technology at Klissoura Cave 1, Greece, di G. Marciani et alii, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, 11 july 2026, article number 2 - open access -

The Uluzzian technocomplex (ca. 43,000–39,000 years BP) marks one of the earliest dispersals of Homo sapiens into Europe and the onset of the Upper Palaeolithic in the Mediterranean, yet well-documented evidence outside the Italian Peninsula remains rare. Klissoura Cave 1, in the northeastern Peloponnese (Greece), provides the most robust Uluzzian assemblage identified to date beyond Italy. Here we present a comprehensive technological analysis of the lithic assemblage from Layer V, integrating materials from the 1996–97 excavations with previously unpublished data from the 2002 and 2006 field seasons. The chronology of Layer V is constrained by a tephra horizon correlated with the Campanian Ignimbrite/Y5 eruption (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age: 39,800 ± 140 years) and a radiocarbon determination on marine shell (40,323–39,290 cal BP). The objective of the production was the manufacture of flakes and bladelets, obtained through unidirectional debitage from parallel-plane, semi-tournant, and orthogonal cores, with a strong reliance on locally available radiolarite. (…)

Genetic diversity of late Neanderthals in northwestern Europe, di A. Bossoms Mesa et alii, "Nature", volume 655, issue 8122, 9 july 2026, pp. 409–417 - open access -

Archaeological, osteological and genetic evidence suggests that Neanderthals lived in small groups1,2; however, less is known about whether these groups were part of isolated communities or belonged to larger, well-connected populations3. The dense concentration of broadly contemporaneous Neanderthal sites in the Meuse Basin, Belgium4, provides a rare opportunity to study regional populations at high resolution. Here we generated genetic data from 27 Neanderthals who lived less than approximately 52,500 years ago from ten archaeological sites in Belgium and France, including a high-coverage genome from a 45,000-year-old individual from Goyet, Belgium. We show that most of these individuals are more closely related to one another than to other contemporaneous late Neanderthals in Europe. Further, some of these individuals carry DNA from a Neanderthal lineage predating the split of late Neanderthals. Although these Neanderthals overlapped temporally with early modern humans in northwestern Europe from around 47,000 years ago, we find no evidence of recent gene flow from modern humans. (…)

Proteomic analysis of dental enamel from 20 Homo naledi individuals shows no male markers, di P. P. Madupe et alii, "Cell", volume 189, issue 14, pp. 4415-4424.e11, 09 july 2026 - open access -

The Rising Star cave system excavations resulted in a high number of well-preserved skeletal specimens from multiple individuals of Homo naledi, showing a high degree of morphological homogeneity, including dental variation possibly consistent with a single-sex sample. Here, we report the paleoproteomic analysis of dental enamel proteins extracted via micro-destructive acid etching from 23 H. naledi specimens belonging to a minimum of 20 individuals. After excluding the possibility of technical bias, no convincing evidence supporting the confident identification of male individuals was detected in any of the investigated samples. We also detect no variability in the recovered proteome, and we observe two amino acid substitutions: a derived one in amelogenin X compared with Homo, and an ancestral one in COL17A1, also present in Paranthropus robustus. Our results further support the homogeneity of H. naledi fossils and show how to sustainably investigate extinct hominins. (…)

Mozambique Stone Age Landscape: A Decade of Archaeological Research, di N. Bicho et alii, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, 09 july 2026, article number 23 - open access -

Since the publication of our 2016 review mapping the Stone Age of Mozambique (Gonçalves et al., 2016), Stone Age archaeological research in the country has intensified significantly. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of 654 Stone Age sites, including 272 newly documented sites. The recent discoveries in a total of more than 400 sites, discovered primarily through systematic survey campaigns between 2010 and 2025, represent an important increase over the 250 sites known prior to 2010, fundamentally transforming our understanding of prehistoric occupation patterns in southeastern Africa. Our analysis examines altitudinal distribution, clustering, and regional settlement patterns across the Early Stone Age (ESA), Middle Stone Age (MSA), and Late Stone Age (LSA). Analysis reveals significant elevation differences between chronological periods, with ESA sites at lowest elevations, MSA at highest, and LSA intermediate. Multicomponent sites occupy significantly lower elevations than sites with only MSA assemblages, suggesting persistent landscape advantages at low-elevation locations such as river floodplains and coastlines. (…)

Limited Selection on Neanderthal DNA in 30,780 Recently Admixed Genomes with African-like Ancestry, di A. Pfennig, J. Lachance, "Molecular Biology and Evolution", volume 43, issue 7, july 2026, msag136 - open access -

Following introgression, Neanderthal DNA was initially purged from non-African genomes, but the evolutionary fate of remaining introgressed DNA in recently admixed genomes with African-like genetic ancestry has not been tested at biobank-scale. In these admixed genomes, Neanderthal alleles encountered a novel genetic background, potentially leading to renewed selective pressures. We analyzed 30,780 admixed genomes from the All of Us research program, in which Neanderthal alleles were introduced into an African-like genetic background during the last 15 generations. Observed amounts of Neanderthal DNA approximately match expectations based on ancestry proportions, suggesting neutral evolution. In line with this, simulations under a realistic demographic scenario suggest that strong genome-wide selection of Neanderthal DNA (…)

Severe bottleneck of ancient Homo populations: insights from computational modeling and relevant fossil evidence, di S. Zhou et alii, "Molecular Biology and Evolution", volume 43, issue 7, july 2026, msag157 - open access -

Reconstructing ancient population size history is essential for understanding the evolutionary origin of Homo sapiens. We recently developed the fast infinitesimal time coalescent process (FitCoal) and detected a severe population bottleneck occurring approximately 930 thousand years ago. However, two recent studies compared FitCoal and mushi and concluded that the severe bottleneck is a statistical artifact. In this study, we compared the two methods against a benchmark of 10 billion msprime coalescent simulations. We demonstrate that FitCoal achieves both superior speed and accuracy in expected site frequency spectrum (SFS) estimation. Analyses of simulated datasets confirmed that FitCoal reliably recovers the bottleneck, whereas mushi fails under identical conditions. (…)

The Pleniglacial Weichselian loess sequence of Amiens-Renancourt 2 (France): stratigraphy, palaeoenvironment, geochronology and Gravettian occupation, di S. Coutard, O. Moine, C. Paris, C. Richter, M. Horsak, "Quaternaire", 37-2, 2026, volume 37, numéro 2, pp. 55-100 - open access -

Les gisements gravettiens d’Amiens-Renancourt 1 et Amiens-Renancourt 2 se situent en bas d’un long versant façonné dans une craie blanche à silex, dans la zone de confluence entre la Somme, la Selle et une petite vallée sèche profondément incisée, la Vallée de Grâce. Ils se trouvent de part et d’autre d’un éperon crayeux séparant la vallée de la Selle de la vallée de Grâce, qui a sans doute favorisé le dépôt d’épaisses séquences lœssiques adossées au relief et limité l’érosion.
Le site gravettien de Renancourt 2 a été fouillé lors de deux campagnes d’archéologie préventive en 2011 et 2012 sur une surface de 1800 m² au total. D’après les sondages, le gisement est potentiellement conservé sur une surface de 5000 m² environ. L’occupa-tion semble contrainte sur une bande d’une quinzaine de mètres entre un talus crayeux au nord-ouest, et une zone plus humide et hydromorphe au sud-est. Les nombreux remontages lithiques, la présence d’esquilles en abondance, les amas de débitage, la locali-sation des différentes catégories de vestiges en plan et la conservation des vestiges fauniques plaident pour une industrie en position primaire et un niveau unique bien conservé. (…)

Environnements glaciaires des sociétés du Paléolithique moyen à supérieur en Méditerranée sud-occidentale depuis 200 000 ans, di L. Charton, "Quaternaire", 37-2, 2026, volume 37, numéro 2, pp. 101-105 - open access -

Homo neanderthalensis était présent en Europe méditerranéenne depuis au moins 200 000 ans avant le présent (ka BP) et jusqu’à environ 40 ka, période englobant deux longues périodes glaciaires (le MIS 6 et les MIS 4-3) et un interglaciaire (le MIS 5). Son extinction semble coïncider dans le temps avec deux évènements majeurs : un épisode abrupt de refroidissement et de sécheresse, le stadiaire de Heinrich 4 (HS4, contemporain du stadiaire du Groënland - GS9), ainsi que l’arrivée et l’expansion rapide d’Homo sapiens, marquant la transition du Paléolithique moyen à supérieur. Cette double coïncidence chronologique a donné lieu à de nombreux débats concernant les causes du déclin de Néandertal au cours du MIS 3 (e.g. D’Errico & Sánchez Goñi, 2003 ; Finlayson & Carrión, 2007), avec deux hypothèses principales impliquant sa vulnérabilité face à un évènement climatique extrême et la compétition directe ou indirecte avec Sapiens. (…)

Insights into Red Deer Ecology during the Late Epigravettian: New isotopic evidence from Riparo Tagliente (Italian Prealps), di M. Amanova, D. G. Drucker, F. Fontana, "Journal of Quaternary Science", volume 41, issue 5, july 2026, pages 716-731 - open access -

The transition from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Late Glacial marked a shift from the cold conditions of Greenland Stadial-2 (GS-2) to the warmer phases of Greenland Interstadial-1 (GI-1), enabling the reoccupation of Alpine regions by Late Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers. Riparo Tagliente, a rockshelter in northeastern Italy, preserves the most extensive Late Glacial stratigraphy in the southeastern Alps and provides key evidence for early human re-settlement by Late Epigravettian groups. To investigate environmental conditions and resource stability, we analyzed stable carbon and oxygen isotopes (δ13Ccarb, δ18Ocarb) in enamel carbonate from red deer (Cervus elaphus) second and third molars across stratigraphic units 13 to 5, spanning GS-2.1a to GI-1. (...)

Marine Isotope Stage 4 glaciation in northern England, UK: Evidence from Victoria Cave, North Yorkshire, di T. C. Lord et alii,  "Journal of Quaternary Science", volume 41, issue 5, july 2026, pages 770-783 - open access -

Victoria Cave, north Yorkshire, England, contains a long sequence of Pleistocene clastic sediments and calcite flowstones. Earlier work, using U–Th dating, established that the flowstone units formed in interglacial stages corresponding to Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 13, 11, 9, 7 and 5. The intervening laminated sediments were therefore assigned to glacial stages (MIS 12, 10, 6 and 2) and regarded as rhythmites that settled from ponded glacial meltwater in the cave. Victoria Cave is a rare instance of cave rhythmites that formed over a number of glacial–interglacial cycles. The macro- and micromorphologies of the rhythmites support the above interpretation, and the mineralogy demonstrates that the sediments probably derive from rock types within the local area. An OSL age of 66 ± 8.4 ka from the uppermost unit of the rhythmites and two 14C ages of 46.1–54.9 cal. ka BP and 48.9–>55.0 cal. ka BP, for horse and reindeer, respectively, from the overlying Bone-bearing Cave Earth provide a new chronology for these Late Pleistocene sediments. (…)

Re-Evaluating Subsistence Strategies During the Solutrean in the Cantabrian Region (c. 22–19.5 ky cal BP), di R. Portero, M. J. Fernández Gomez, E. Álvarez-Fernández, "European Journal of Archaeology", volume 29, issue 2, may 2026 - open access -

The Solutrean in the Cantabrian region is one of the periods in the Upper Palaeolithic with the highest number of faunal studies conducted in recent decades, which offer valuable insights into how human groups exploited their environment for survival. Here, the authors analyse twenty-four archaeological levels from twelve sites dated between c. 22 and 19.5 ky cal bp, focusing on the exploitation of large mammals through palaeoecological and palaeoeconomic approaches. Their examination of prey acquisition and transport, age profiles, seasonality, nutrition, and energy costs shows that hunting decisions were influenced not only by the economic profitability of prey but also by the environment, topography, climate, animal behaviour, and species abundance. This multifactorial perspective provides an updated view of subsistence strategies at the onset of the Last Glacial Maximum. (…)

Aggiornamento 04/07/2026

Wetland life: Exploring Mesolithic Hunter-Gatherer-Fisher socioecologies using high-resolution palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of pollen and NPP at Dagsmosse, Sweden, di P. Blaesild et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 388, 15 september 2026, article: 110079 - open access -

At Dagsmosse in south-central Sweden, evidence from well-preserved Mesolithic wetland sites (10,200–7000 cal a BP) demonstrates occupation continuity among Hunter-Gatherer-Fisher (HGF) communities in wetland areas. This study presents detailed environmental reconstructions of the Dagsmosse basin, where Mesolithic fishing and dwelling activities were recorded. Focusing on the Preboreal–Boreal biozones (11,700–7800 cal a BP), we present a high-resolution palaeoecological record from pollen, micro-charcoal, macro-fossil and Non-Pollen Palynomorph (NPP) analyses. The local palaeoecological dataset shows HGF niche construction and socioecological change throughout Boreal 1 and 2 (10,200–8100 cal a BP). The dataset supports claims that HGF activities followed both general and intrinsic ecological shifts within the basin. Human-environment interactions were classified into three phases by correlating archaeological data with trophic lake changes, water-level fluctuations and autochthonous variation in bio-production. (…)

The earliest evidence of the Levallois technology in Central Europe: New data from Biśnik Cave, Poland, di A. Wiśniewski et alii,  "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 388, 15 september 2026, article: 110010

This paper presents a new distribution model for Levallois technology, which was crucial during the late Middle Pleistocene in Central Europe. Previous studies have indicated that the earliest site (>MIS 8/7) and source of diffusion may have been located in western Europe (west of the Rhine). In this article, we present a series of new studies on the lower stratigraphic sequence of Biśnik Cave in southern Poland (Central Europe), dating to the late Middle Pleistocene and characterised by the presence of Levallois artefacts. These studies included radiometric dating of sediments using post-IRSL feldspar and SAR quartz methods, indicating the greater reliability of the former. The radiometric data were integrated with microstratigraphic analyses of the sediments, which revealed that the oldest layers may contain an admixture of older material from external sources, potentially resulting in artificially increased age estimates. (…)

The environmental context of Ambrona Middle Stratigraphic Member (~350 ka): Insights from stable isotope analysis on mammalian tooth enamel, di G. Briatico et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 388, 15 september 2026, article: 110100 - open access -

The Middle Pleistocene was characterized by pronounced climatic oscillations that reshaped European ecosystems and influenced hominin settlement dynamics. This study reconstructs the paleoenvironmental context of the Middle Stratigraphic Member of Ambrona (Soria, Spain), dated to ~350 ka (MIS 9), using stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope analyses of 56 tooth enamel samples from Equidae, Bovidae, Cervidae, and Elephantidae. The isotopic dataset is strongly dominated by equids, and paleoenvironmental interpretations primarily reflect equid ecology. (...)

Long-term flint procurement preferences and cultural stability at the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov: A multi-proxy geochemical approach, di R. Ekshtain, N. Goren-Inbar, T. Golan, Y. Ben Dor, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 388, 15 september 2026, article: 110108 - open access -

Raw-material procurement patterns of prehistoric hominins provide valuable insight into landscape knowledge, and persistent raw material procurement over millennia, suggesting continuous cultural transmission during early human evolution. This study examines flint acquisition strategies at the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov (GBY, ~780 ka) in the Levant through detailed multi-proxy geochemical analyses of handaxes, cores, and éclat de taille de biface (Edtb) from multiple stratigraphically superimposed archaeological horizons. A comprehensive geological survey documented 24 potential regional flint sources, followed by visual classification and detailed geochemical profiling using XRF and ICP spectrometry in order to associate archaeological artifacts with potential geological sources. The results demonstrate that GBY hominins consistently preferred Eocene flint sources located 5–20 km west of the site, despite the presence of Cenomanian alternatives immediately north of the site. This selectivity is most pronounced in handaxes, which form tight geochemical clusters, while cores and Edtb exhibit broader Eocene signatures, likely reflecting on-site final manufacturing from multiple Eocene sources. (...)

Reconstructing hunting territories at the Early Upper Paleolithic site of Mughr el-Hamamah, Jordan, di  G. Hartman, J. L. Clark, L. Nilsson Stutz, A. J. Stutz, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 388, 15 september 2026, article: 110099

Mughr el-Hamamah (MHM) is currently the only radiometrically dated Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) site in the eastern half of the Jordan Valley. Excavations at the site revealed artifact-rich anthropogenic deposits dating between 45 and 39 ka cal BP, providing a unique opportunity to explore the environmental adaptations of EUP human groups. In this study, we use isotopic analysis of incrementally sampled gazelle and Persian fallow deer teeth to 1) reconstruct the environmental conditions persisting during the time of human occupation and 2) provide an estimate of the hunting range of MHM's inhabitants. Our results indicate that the site location provided an ideal setting that would have facilitated successive human occupations during a humid phase of the Last Glacial cycle. Seasonal changes in oxygen isotope (δ18O) values recorded in Persian fallow deer teeth indicate heavy reliance on permanent water flow from tributaries of paleo Lake Lisan, and the presence of riparian thickets that provided fallow deer with lush forage and predation protection. (...)

Neanderthals in dynamic Landscapes: Climate variability and human occupation from MIS 5-3 at Axlor cave (Northern Atlantic Iberia), di S. Pérez-Díaz, J. González-Urquijo, J. A. López-Sáez, T. Lazuen, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 388, 15 september 2026, article: 110098 - open access -

We present palynological evidence and associated environmental and adaptive inferences from a long sequence of Neanderthal occupations robustly dated between MIS 5 and MIS 3 at Axlor. The cave lies in the southwesternmost sector of the Eurosiberian biogeographic region, in northern Atlantic Iberia. This coastal strip acted as a refugium for temperate taxa under adverse Upper Pleistocene climates, with persistent representation of mixed deciduous forest taxa. Quercus, Corylus, Castanea, Fagus, Taxus, Juglans, Crataegus and Prunus are recorded across nine stadial and interstadial phases. Riparian taxa, including Alnus, Fraxinus and Salix, are well represented, indicating permanent watercourses during most phases.
Despite the resilience of temperate forests, marked shifts in landscape structure occurred, modulated by climatic fluctuations. In our record these changes are expressed primarily in forest cover, forest composition and grassland extent. Nonetheless, the region consistently provided a stable niche of exploitable resources for Neanderthal groups between ca. 107-42 ka BP. (…)

E-lorgesailie: An Agent-Based Simulation Model of Acheulean Lithic Raw Material Procurement and Handaxe Deposition Patterns, di G. S. McCall, M. Rehan, "Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory", volume 33, issue 3, september 2026, article number 49 - open access -

The striking archaeological patterning associated with Acheulean handaxes has been the subject of investigation for more than two centuries. Since the earliest days of the field, Paleolithic archaeologists have noticed the tendency for some Acheulean sites to take the form of large biface concentrations, while other contemporaneous sites (often in close spatial proximity) have few or none. This paper explores the potential significance of this patterning through agent-based simulation using the Netlogo software platform. In particular, our study looks at a variant of the stone cache model in exploring a potential economy of lithic raw materials based on (1) the direct acquisition of stone at discrete quarry locations, (2) the necessity of handaxes in carrying out spatially dispersed subsistence activities, and (3) the intentional caching of handaxes at strategic landscape locations in order to reduce mobility costs in traveling to quarry sites to acquire lithic raw material. (…)

Paleolithic Dietary Flexibility? Methodological Considerations in Analogy-Based Reconstructions of Paleolithic Energetic Returns, di M. Ben-Dor, R. Barkai, "Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory", volume 33, issue 3, september 2026, article number 47 - open access -

Trophic level, which serves as a basic determinant of the evolutionary pathway of animals, including humans, emerges as, primarily, a product of relative energetic returns and food items availability. The concept of trophic level flexibility during the Paleolithic period for the highly adaptable human species represents a prevailing paradigm in the field of paleoanthropology. This paradigm largely relies on the observed variability of trophic levels among recent hunter-gatherer societies. We examine various methodological aspects involved in using ethnographic quantitative data as an analogical source for reconstructing the energetic returns of humans during the Paleolithic period and, consequently, their trophic level. By analyzing datasets from several studies, we highlight potential limitations that may arise when applying such analogies. In the past we argued that Paleolithic humans preferred to acquire the largest available prey. This assertion met with objection, based on ethnographic analogies. (…)

Bringing back familiar forms: recycling quina scrapers at the late lower palaeolithic Qesem Cave, Israel, di B. Efrati, "Oxford Journal of Archaeology", volume 45, issue 3, august 2026, pages 250-277 - open access -

This study presents a technological analysis of 18 old patinated scrapers and spalls, mostly of Quina technology, that were recycled into new scrapers of the same type at the Late Lower Palaeolithic site of Qesem Cave, Israel (420–200 kyr). Recycling scrapers into the same Quina and demi-Quina types offers a rare, controlled opportunity to investigate a technology’s biographical character. Comparing the tools’ pre- and post-recycling phases demonstrates that the selection of old items was highly intentional, guided by the original tool’s morphology and the affordances of its pre-existing features. This process suggests an enacted perceptual experience, demonstrating a skilled recognition of the potential remaining in discarded objects. A sophisticated understanding of material properties and technological trajectories is thus revealed. This behaviour suggests a form of historically-aware material engagement, offering new insights into the cognitive and technological capabilities of Late Lower Palaeolithic humans and providing a basis for future cognitive studies. (…)

Arrowhead or spearpoint? Experimental analysis of impact traces on slotted bone points with microblade insets, di F. Molin, P. Zetterlund, "Oxford Journal of Archaeology", volume 45, issue 3, august 2026, pages 278-305

Slotted bone points likely originated in Palaeolithic traditions and evolved into efficient, reusable Mesolithic hunting weapons optimized for reliability and increased bleeding, reducing the risk of hunting failure. Such bone points were long debated as either spear tips or arrowheads, but earlier interpretations lacked reliable criteria. A newly conducted experiment show they function effectively as arrowheads when mounted on appropriate shafts and fired with bows of realistic Mesolithic draw weight. Damage patterns on bone points and insets matches archaeological finds from Motala in south-central Sweden. Microblade durability varied with the inset raw material, though penetration did not. The type of adhesive had minimal effect on performance. The design’s main advantage lies in its long cutting edges, which create larger wound channels than plain bone points. (…)

Archaeobotanical investigations and experimental activity performed at Bàsura Cave (Toirano, NW Italy) reveal clues on Epigravettian cave lighting systems, di D. Arobba et alii, "Quaternary International", volume 772, 1 august 2026, 110335 - open access -

The Bàsura Cave (Toirano, NW Italy) is one of the most important caves in northern Italy conserving the fossilised footprints of a walking trail left by a small group of humans accompanied by a canid dating to the Epigravettian and an impressive cave bear bone deposit of the middle Pleistocene. In 2016 a new research project entitled “The Bàsura Revisited”, returned to fieldwork through a multidisciplinary approach, with the aim of understanding the nature of the human and animal presence in the cave. In this paper we present the results of a multidisciplinary investigation of archaeobotanical remains, stratigraphic sequences, and experimental reconstructions relating to Late Upper Palaeolithic human activity in the Bàsura Cave. The study is centered on the anthracological and palynological remains which led to the identification and interpretation of cave lighting system based on controlled experiments. (…)

Variations in human ecodynamics in the southern Pyrenees: chert procurement and use at Cova Gran de Santa Linya during the Upper Paleolithic, di J. Sánchez-Martínez et alii, "Quaternary International", volume 771, 30 july 2026, 110312 - open access -

The southern slope of the Pyrenees is rich in siliceous resources, particularly chert. This material, widely distributed across the region, was the primary raw material exploited by anatomically modern humans (AMH) during the Upper Paleolithic. However, it remains unclear whether the procurement strategies employed during this period—marked by multiple climatic fluctuations and chrono-cultural phases remained consistent or changed over time. To address this question, an archaeopetrological characterization of chert was conducted on the core and retouched tool assemblages from the Upper Paleolithic sequence at Cova Gran de Santa Linya. This analysis aims to identify the sedimentary origins of the silicifications and infer potential procurement zones to detect variations in lithic organization and procurement strategies over time. The study distinguishes two main types of silicifications: cherts formed in a continental hypersaline (evaporitic) sedimentary environment, likely associated with the Garumnian facies of the Tremp Formation, and cherts derived from a continental lacustrine environment, available in various geological formations within the Pre-Pyrenean Marginal Ranges and the Ebro Valley. (...)

New perspectives on lithic technology and subsistence strategies at the middle palaeolithic site of Ras el-Kelb, Lebanon, di M. Soubra et alii, "Quaternary International", volume 771, 30 july 2026, 110322 - open access -

The Middle Palaeolithic of the Central Levant remains a topic of ongoing debates concerning cultural variability, technological traditions, and hominin occupations. One crucial site that adds to the discussion is Ras el-Kelb, a geographically strategic site located between the Lebanese coastal cliffs and the historic Nahr el-Kelb valley. While the site was excavated in the 1950s by Dorothy Garrod and Germaine Henri-Martin, it remains understudied in terms of modern archaeological methodologies and technologies. For this reason, we revisit some lithic artefacts from the site’s original collection, which had been transported to University College London, to build upon previous studies and relate its findings to recent advancements in the field. Our main objective is to explore technological and cultural variability, within environmental and geographical frameworks. We focus on the use of the natural landscape, specifically through the exploitation of raw material and animal resources. To achieve this, we use qualitative and quantitative methods to study the lithics, alongside low-power and high-power approaches for use-wear analyses. (…)

Late Neandertal occupations in a Galician mountain valley during MIS 3: Cova Eirós (Triacastela, Lugo, NW Iberia), di X. P. Rodríguez-Alvarez et alii, "Quaternary International", volume 770, 15 jJuly 2026, 110292 - open access -

In this paper we analyze the last Neanderthal occupations in Cova Eirós (level 3, 41.7-39 ka cal. BP). This site is located in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula, at a prominent and strategic place in the small valley of Cancelo (Tricastela, Lugo, Spain), just at the intersection of the Cantabrian and western Atlantic basins. The occupations of level 3 of Cova Eirós show the survival of small, isolated Mousterian communities in mountainous and marginal areas at a time when Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) are found elsewhere in Iberia. The paleoclimatic reconstruction, based on the macrofaunal and small vertebrates assemblages from level 3, reflects a balanced ecosystem with high specific biodiversity. Both the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and the faunal assemblage are indicative of a typical glacial-period refuge area, characterized by a predominantly wooded habitat interspersed with open spaces. The richness and chrono-stratigraphic definition of the archeological record from Cova Eirós provide a good glimpse into the technology and subsistence strategies of the last Neanderthal groups that occupied the Iberian northwest.(…)

The Northern Tradition rock art of western Norway: from archaeological relativism to iconographic relevance under Late Mesolithic demographic change, di T. Lødøen, "World Archaeology", 03 Jul 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.2026.2680488 - open access -

The paper argues that more holistic and theoretically informed approaches to contextualizing the Northern Tradition rock art of Scandinavia have significantly expanded the interpretive potential of its iconography. By integrating archaeological excavations, independent scientific analyses, and extensive radiocarbon dating procedures, a more robust chronological framework has emerged, situating the production of Northern tradition rock art firmly to the end of the Late Mesolithic. This chronological anchoring has enabled a reconceptualization of the imagery not merely as isolated symbolic expressions, but as practices embedded within contemporaneous material, social, and perhaps even ecological transformations. The demonstrated synchrony between iconographic themes and demographic shifts at the term of the Late Mesolithic further suggests that the imagery may be read as an active engagement with – and representation of – structures and features once part of prehistoric dynamics. The paper also critiques prevailing interpretive models shaped by modern Western utilitarian and consumption-based assumptions, arguing that such frameworks still constrain our ability to access alternative ontological premises. Instead, it advocates theoretical approaches inspired by multispecies perspectives, relational ontologies, and broader anthropological debates on animism and posthumanism, to reconstruct past premises. (…)

Taphonomic analysis at Liang Bua reveals the behavioral and technological capabilities of Homo floresiensis, di E. Grace Veatch et alii, "Science Advances", 3 jul 2026, vol 12, issue 27 - open access -

Since its discovery, Homo floresiensis—an extinct, short-statured, and small-brained hominin species from Flores, Indonesia—has often been ascribed unexpectedly advanced behaviors, such as hunting large game and using fire. Here, we report the results of a systematic taphonomic study sampling the proboscidean bone assemblage at Liang Bua where the frequency and locations of predatory marks, along with skeletal part profiles, show that Komodo dragons likely had primary access to these remains leaving behind only low-utility elements for H. floresiensis to scavenge. Moreover, no signs of intentional use of fire are present in the stratigraphic units associated with H. floresiensis. Together, these results suggest that H. floresiensis was not as behaviorally advanced as originally suggested and provides critical insights into the behavioral repertoire of H. floresiensis, raising important questions about its ancestry. (…)

Enamel proteins from six Homo erectus specimens across China, di Q. Fu et alii, "Nature", volume 655, issue 8121, 2 july 2026, pp. 141–147 - open access -

Homo erectus remains have been found in Africa, Eurasia and Southeast Asia1,2,3, dating back around two million years; however, owing to their age and state of preservation, obtaining informative molecular data from them has proved challenging. Here we successfully extracted and analysed ancient enamel proteins from five male and one female Middle Pleistocene H. erectus specimens from approximately 0.4 million years ago, from the Zhoukoudian, Hexian and Sunjiadong sites. All specimens from all three sites share two amino acid variants. Of these, A253G in AMBN is previously unknown and has not been identified in other human lineages, including H. erectus from Dmanisi (Georgia), Homo antecessor from Atapuerca (Spain), Denisovans, Neanderthals and modern humans. The other variant, AMBN(M273V), has previously been identified in Denisovans, and our evidence now indicates it may have been introduced through populations related to these Middle Pleistocene H. erectus. The regions in the Denisovan genome attributed to super-archaic introgression, some of which later passed to modern humans, are likely to have originated from H. erectus. Late Middle Pleistocene H. erectus may have coexisted with Denisovans in parts of East Asia, where these interactions are presumed to have occurred. (…)

New microscale insights into plant-based bedding construction and maintenance between 200 000 and 43 000 years ago at Border Cave, South Africa, di P. Morrissey, D. Stratford, "Journal of Archaeological Science", volume 191, july 2026, article: 106592 - open access -

The construction and maintenance of plant-based bedding in Stone Age contexts have received increasing attention in recent decades, as have the evolutionary implications of these behaviours. However, much of the current understanding of the microscale properties of Stone Age bedding comes from the micromorphological analysis of deposits at three Middle Stone Age sites in South Africa: Sibhudu Cave, Diepkloof Rock Shelter, and Border Cave. The latter site has yielded the oldest confidently identified bedding remains at ~200 ka, but only a very limited portion of the site's long sequence has been investigated at the microscale. Given how little information is available, the Border Cave sequence provides an opportunity to significantly enlarge the global sample size of microscopically analysed Stone Age bedding. Here, we describe and interpret six bedding microfacies identified through micromorphological analysis of Border Cave deposits spanning 200 to 43 ka. Several of these microfacies closely match those reported from Sibhudu and Diepkloof but differ in small, but potentially significant, ways. (...)

Chronological assessments of Quina Neanderthals at De Nadale cave (Italy) using combined uranium-series/electron spin resonance dating of fossil teeth, di W. Yu et alii, "Journal of Human Evolution", volumes 215–216, june–july 2026, article: 103842 - open access -

De Nadale Cave is a Neanderthal site located in the Berici Hills of Northeast Italy that provides important insights into regional Middle Paleolithic occupational dynamics. This paper presents the results of the first combined uranium-series and electron spin resonance (U-S/ESR) dating study of herbivore teeth recovered from the site. Three bovid and cervid teeth yield U-S/ESR ages of 79 ± 9 ka, 72 ± 11 ka, and 55 ± 11 ka, with a calculated weighted mean age of 70.1 ± 5.9 ka. These age estimates align with, and further clarify, earlier biochronological findings at De Nadale Cave, as well as previous analyses of charcoal fragments and U/Th dating undertaken on a large herbivore tooth from the site. The new U-S/ESR ages are statistically indistinguishable from the previously published U/Th minimum age of 70.2 +1.0/−0.9 ka when considering their 2σ uncertainty ranges. The consistency of these results supports the reliability of the U-S/ESR chronological framework at De Nadale and indicates that Neanderthal occupation of the site potentially occurred close to the transition between late Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 and early MIS 4, providing important insights into Neanderthal occupation patterns during the harsh stadial and transitional climate phases of the Late Pleistocene. (...)

Dawn of the Initial and Early Upper Paleolithic blade industries in the Levant: Mobility and interactions as reflected from Shualim Rockshelter, Israel, di L. Edeltin et alii, "Journal of Human Evolution", volumes 215–216, june–july 2026, article: 103846 - open access -

Shualim Rockshelter is situated in the arid central highlands of the Negev in southern Israel and features three occupation layers, spanning from the Initial Upper Paleolithic to the Early Upper Paleolithic, with ages ranging from 47 to 36 ka cal. BP. Site chronology was established by radiocarbon dating of ostrich eggshell fragments and optically stimulated dating of sediments. Cultural variability was assessed through a technotypological analysis of each layer, employing the chaîne opératoire methodology. Layers I and II are attributed to the Ahmarian culture, dating roughly from 45 to 36 ka cal. BP, whereas Layer III is associated with the Initial Upper Paleolithic with an age between 46 and 43 ka cal. BP. Intra-site variability indicates technological shifts from unidirectional reduction sequences producing Levallois-like points in Layer III, to bidirectional sequences for the production of coarse el-Wad points in Layer II. (…)

Principal Components Analysis Fails to Recover Phylogenetic Structure in Hominins, di L. Y. Raskin, M. Šešelj, B. D. Bitarello, S. Stroustrup, J. K. Li, J. Huelsenbeck, "American Journal of Biological Anthropology", volume 190, issue 3, july 2026, e70306

Paleoanthropologists often utilize geometric morphometrics and principal components analysis (PCA) to interpret shape variation within the hominin fossil record. It is common practice to interpret proximity in principal components (PC) space among taxa as indicative of not just morphological but also phylogenetic affinity. This interpretation, however, has not been directly evaluated for hominins.
First, we inferred the posterior distribution of hominin phylogenetic trees and subsampled trees from this distribution. On these phylogenies, we simulated 2D and 3D geometric morphometric datasets and traditional morphological datasets, containing traits analogous to measurements of size or length, with varying numbers of landmarks or traits and evolutionary rates. On each dataset, we conducted a PCA and used neighbor-joining to infer evolutionary relationships from the PC scores of each taxon. We measured the difference between the PCA tree and sampled tree with subtree pruning and regrafting distance and Robinson-Foulds distance. (…)

Inferring the role of hominids at Torralba: spatial analysis of original excavation data, di L. Sánchez-Romero, A. Benito-Calvo, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 7, july 2026, article number 156 - open access -

Torralba has been a key locality for Middle Pleistocene paleoanthropology since its discovery by the Marqués de Cerralbo in the early 1900s. It yielded numerous elephant bones and lithic artifacts, leading to its first interpretation as an elephant kill site, and provoking subsequent studies and debates about that interpretation. After Cerralbo, Torralba was excavated by a multidisciplinary team led by the American paleoanthropologist F. Clark Howell between 1961 and 1963. This work generated a large body of documentation, including maps, photographs, catalogs, drawings, and notes. Here, we present previously unpublished stratigraphic sections and georeferenced and digitalized distribution maps. Combined with newly digitized archival photographs of the original excavations, these resources provide long sought and critically important spatial and stratigraphic positioning of 1,541 bones, 428 artifacts and 1,678 additional stones (among other elements). (…)

Genetic diversity of late Neanderthals in northwestern Europe, di A. Bossoms Mesa et alii, "Nature", 24 june 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10625-1 - open access -

Archaeological, osteological and genetic evidence suggests that Neanderthals lived in small groups; however, less is known about whether these groups were part of isolated communities or belonged to larger, well-connected populations. The dense concentration of broadly contemporaneous Neanderthal sites in the Meuse Basin, Belgium4, provides a rare opportunity to study regional populations at high resolution. Here we generated genetic data from 27 Neanderthals who lived less than approximately 52,500 years ago from ten archaeological sites in Belgium and France, including a high-coverage genome from a 45,000-year-old individual from Goyet, Belgium. We show that most of these individuals are more closely related to one another than to other contemporaneous late Neanderthals in Europe. Further, some of these individuals carry DNA from a Neanderthal lineage predating the split of late Neanderthals. Although these Neanderthals overlapped temporally with early modern humans in northwestern Europe from around 47,000 years ago, we find no evidence of recent gene flow from modern humans. (…)

Investigating ancient human DNA preservation on cave walls and in rock art, di A. Bossoms Mesa et alii, "Nature Communications", volume 17, 23 june 2026, article number: 5561, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74234-2 - open access -

Previous efforts to link Palaeolithic cultural records to specific populations through DNA analysis have focused on materials from archaeological floor deposits such as bones, sediments, and artefacts. In this study, we explore whether rock art, a spatially distinct expression of human activity, can also preserve DNA traces from its creators. We analyse DNA preservation in pigment samples collected in and around 24 rock art panels from 11 caves across Spain and Portugal, including simple marks (from nine sites), hand stencils (Maltravieso Cave, Extremadura, Spain), and figurative paintings (Cave of Altamira, Cantabria, Spain). We recover traces of ancient human mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, unaccompanied by faunal DNA, from a pigmented calcite crust at Escoural Cave (Portugal), as well as from an unpigmented cave wall sample from the same site. The absence of faunal DNA in both samples suggests direct DNA deposition through human contact. In contrast, three additional unpigmented samples, from Escoural and Covarón Cave (Asturias, Spain), yielded mixtures of human and faunal DNA, suggesting indirect deposition. (…)

Carved stone in Mesolithic Cornwall: portable art, Mesolithic magic or mundane markings. Extraordinary new discoveries from southwest Britain, di C. Carey, A. M. Jones, A. Lawson-Jones, J. May, L. Ratcliffe-Warren, S. Taylor,  "World Archaeology", 12 Jun 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.2026.2680487

Shaped and carved stone is a fundamental component of the archaeological record from the Mesolithic period across the UK. Whilst flint is the central element of this archaeological record, there is also a significant non-flint lithic component to many British Mesolithic sites that has been somewhat understudied. Within Cornwall, south-west Britain, research into this non-flint lithic component, partially retrieved through innovative methods of whole ‘earth’ sampling of Mesolithic land-surfaces, has revealed a significant collection of Mesolithic carved stones. A selection of these stones is presented and consideration is given to whether these pieces were created from their use as tools or whether these pieces of stone have longer biographies, potentially eventually becoming mnemonic devices. Parallels are drawn to other Mesolithic carvings from across the UK, with some symbols such as the ‘X’s and parallel lines, evident over a wide area and across the long time period of the Mesolithic. (…)

Identity and mobility through personal ornaments in Upper Paleolithic cantabrian hunter-gatherer societies: Insights from Llonín cave (Asturias, Spain), di D. Pérez-García de los Salmones et alii, 8 june 2026, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0351170 - open access -

The use of personal ornaments is considered a milestone in human cognitive evolution and the development of complex behavior. The Cantabrian region in the north of the Iberian Peninsula served as a hub of occupation and intergroup contact throughout the Upper Paleolithic, and acted as a climatic refugium during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM – 25,000–19,000 years ago), constituting a key region for understanding the social and symbolic structures and interactions of hunter-gatherer groups. This study analyses personal ornaments recovered from the Upper Paleolithic stratigraphical sequence at Llonín Cave (Asturias, Spain), spanning from the Upper Solutrean to the Azilian (c. 21.8–11 kya cal BP), that comprises the regional largest and most diverse assemblage. The combination of taxonomic, biometric, taphonomic, and use-wear analyses reveals rarely documented patterns, such as diachronic shifts in the site’s role as an importer and producer of ornaments, the varying social significance of their use, and the strategies for raw material procurement. Furthermore, the study identifies evidence of coastal-inland interactions, allowing the reconstruction of the complete chaîne opératoire for ornament manufacture. These findings provide a framework for reinterpreting the use of personal ornaments among Paleolithic hunter-gatherer groups, facilitating critical discussions on key dimensions such as mobility and identity. (…)

The persistence of memory: reuse and resignification of prehistoric petroglyphs in historical times. Two case studies from Malagón (La Mancha, Spain), di Á. Ibero, L. Benítez de Lugo Enrich, Á. Guzmán Sil, "World Archaeology", 05 Jun 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.2026.2683508

This paper presents two unpublished petroglyph sites from Malagón (La Mancha, inner Iberia) as case studies in the long-term cultural reuse and reinterpretation of prehistoric rock art. Through a diachronic-biographical approach that combines archaeological, historical, and ethnographic sources, our research has identified several graphic phases spanning from Late Prehistory to the 19th century. These include cup-marks, schematic motifs, inscriptions, Christian iconography, and modern imagery. Moreover, interviews with locals indicate that these sites have remained in use through to the present day. Consequently, both sites represent an ideal scenario to explore how different human communities have persistently engaged with these sites throughout millennia, attributing new meanings aligned with changing worldviews. Thus, rather than conceiving archaeological sites as static relics, the study emphasizes their dynamic role in the construction of collective memory and identity. Ultimately, all this supports the notion that integrating traditional knowledge into archaeological interpretation can result in a more inclusive and socially grounded approach to heritage preservation. (…)

Tool-stone selection in the African Middle stone age at Sibhudu cave, di P. Schmidt, K. G. Nickel, 4 june 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0350817 - open access -

The raw materials people used for making stone tools may contain information about their territory, exchange routs or the selection criteria they employed during provisioning. In this study, we measure the mechanical properties of different tool-stones used by foragers living during the Middle Stone Age at Sibhudu Cave in South Africa. The site yielded a long and continuous sequence that saw transitions between different raw materials and tool forms. We evaluate the quality of these different stones for tool making and use, attempting to find correlations between selected raw materials and the tools made from them. We find that the raw materials used at Sibhudu have substantially different qualities, some being easy to flake but weak upon use, some being tough during stone knapping and resistant during use. Comparing these data with the appearance and disappearance of tool types throughout the Sibhudu sequence, we note that tool-stones requiring lower flaking forces were more often retouched than those requiring great forces. Elongated products, blades, were mostly made from materials with better fracture predictability, suggesting an understanding of the basic requirements for standardising the tool knapping process. Use-related qualities, such as resistance to dulling, appear to have been of lesser importance at Sibhudu. Our results suggest that the site’s occupants had a good understanding of the qualities of rocks for specific knapping processes. (…)

Enamel nanocrystal misorientation increased with meat-eating and agriculture, di P. U. P. A. Gilbert et alii, "Nature", volume 654, issue 8117, 4 june 2026, pp. 76–84 - open access -

Enamel covers teeth, is the hardest tissue in the vertebrate body and has a complex multiscale structure from nanometres to millimetres1. The structure comprises thin, long hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH) nanocrystals2, 50–70 nm wide, many micrometres long, parallel and bundled into approximately 5-µm-wide rods. The rods undulate and cross into a microscale ‘decussation pattern’ that toughens enamel by deflecting cracks3,4. However, the crystallographic orientation of enamel nanocrystals is poorly understood. Here we show that the misorientation angle of adjacent nanocrystals varies markedly across 12 primate teeth spanning 9 species, 17.8 million years of evolution and diverse diets. Using a method called Polarization Enabled Large Input of Crystal Angles at the Nanoscale (PELICAN)5, we compare nanocrystals in the same (pre)molar locations and show that misorientation increases with food hardness in extant and fossil non-human apes and monkeys. We compare misorientation across three major dietary shifts in human evolution: the transition to meat-eating about 2.0–1.5 million years before present6,7, to agriculture (about 12,000 years before present)8,9, and the Industrial Revolution (about 250 years before present)10. We show that over the past 1.6 million years, in the human lineage misorientation increased with time, especially when meat and stone-ground grains were introduced into human diets, but not with the Industrial Revolution. Thus, besides macro-changes, teeth adapted to dietary change at the nanoscale and crystallographically. This observation suggests that misorientation may contribute to enamel’s resilience; thus, bioinspired materials may consider small misorientation angles for added resilience. (...)

Seasonal shellfish exploitation by Neanderthals 115,000 years ago, di A. García-Escárzaga et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 2 june 2026, vol. 123, no. 22, e2531880123

The southern coast of Europe has been at the center of archaeological debates contrasting the social and cognitive capabilities of Neanderthals and modern humans. Early evidence of marine resource exploitation by Neanderthals in this region challenged some views that coastal adaptation was a trait distinctive of modern human cognition and behavior. While it is now evident that Neanderthals exploited marine resources, the nature of their seasonal foraging strategies remains an open question. Here, we analyzed the oxygen isotope composition of mollusk shells collected by Neanderthals at Los Aviones Cave (Iberian Peninsula), demonstrating that they primarily exploited intertidal mollusks during the colder months of the year. (…)

New evidence for Early Pleistocene use of fire at Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa), di M. D. Marin-Monfort et alii, 1 june 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347480 - open access -

Tracing the earliest evidence of burning in archaeological contexts is essential for understanding the emergence of fire use—an innovation that underpinned critical behavioral and biological developments in the genus Homo. However, identifying unambiguous traces of early fire use remains challenging. To enhance detection of incipient burning in early occupation layers, we introduce a rapid, non-invasive protocol based on bone luminescence properties, validated through comparison with Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Using these methods, we provide evidence for fire use in two Early Pleistocene (Acheulean) deposits at Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa), extending the chronology of one of the world’s earliest paleo-fire records. This combined approach improves the resolution with which early fire use can be identified and opens new avenues for investigating the emergence of pyrotechnology in deep time. (…)

Early development of Neanderthals revealed through virtual microanatomy, di J. J. Miszkiewicz et alii, "Royal Society Open Science", volume 13, issue 6, 1 june 2026 - open access -

The ontogeny of Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) perinates is poorly understood due to the paucity of juvenile skeletal remains. Here we reconstruct fetal bone growth, and explore deciduous tooth structures, in three Neanderthal juveniles (Sesselfelsgrotte, 1, 2 and 3) (90 000–50 000 years ago) from southeastern Germany using non-invasive microcomputed tomography. Sesselfelsgrotte 1 exhibited bone tissue consistent with modern human perinatal plexiform-like structures and primary osteons. Long bones showed regions of advanced growth compared with the mandible and frontal bone, which can be explained through different processes of ossification and potentially localized faster development in Neanderthals compared with modern humans. Bone microstructure resembles that of the late third trimester of modern humans, agreeing with previous estimates based on macroscopic data. Sesselfelsgrotte 2 and 3 deciduous teeth retain hypodensities deep within the crown dentine consistent with interglobular dentine. We conclude that the fetal bone patterning is similar to modern humans with some areas of advanced growth, indicating that the growth trajectory for this Neanderthal perinate was broadly equivalent to that of modern humans. The abnormal dentine mineralization points towards a possible systemic disorder. (…)

A Reappraisal of the Frontal Bone and Mandibles of Late Pleistocene Hominins From Maludong, Southwestern China: A 3D Geometric Morphometric Perspective, di Y. Fan, S. Ma, Q. Yin, J. Yan, J. Zhao, S. Pang, X. Ji, M. Delgado, P. Wei, "American Journal of Biological Anthropology", volume 190, issue 2, june 2026, e70287

Multiple Late Pleistocene hominin fossils have been discovered at Maludong, southwestern China, which exhibit a mosaic of archaic and modern human traits, revealing high hominin diversity. To further investigate the regional variation of hominins during the Late Pleistocene in East Asia, this study presents a 3D geometric morphometric analysis of the Maludong frontal bone and mandibles.
CT-scanned 3D models of Maludong frontal bone (MLDG 1704) and mandibular (MLDG 1679/1706) fossils were analyzed using 3D geometric morphometrics, alongside comparative 3D models of Pleistocene hominins and fossil/extant modern humans.
The Maludong frontal bone and mandibular shape variation (MLDG 1706) fall within the range of variation observed in Late Pleistocene Homo sapiens and modern humans, exhibiting distinct modern human-like traits. Specifically, the frontal bone shows a reduced supraorbital ridge and a broad, globular frontal squama with greater curvature. The mandible displays a more vertical symphysis and a more elongated ramus. However, the MLDG 1679 mandible falls within the morphological range of Late Pleistocene Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, characterized by a shorter and more robust ramus. (…)

Rib Cross-Sectional Mineralized Area in Early Pleistocene Hominins: Insights From the Homo antecessor and H. erectus s. l. Fossil Record, di J. M. López-Rey et alii, "American Journal of Biological Anthropology", volume 190, issue 2, june 2026, e70299 - open access -

Rib cross-sectional mineralized area provides valuable insights into mechanical loading and bone growth and remodeling. Given the scarcity of Early Pleistocene costal remains in the context of human evolution, we aimed to study the cross-sectional anatomy of fossil ribs from that period and compare them to a modern human ontogenetic series ranging from 8 to over 30 years of age.
We extracted the rib cross section at the midshaft of 6 fossil ribs attributed to several H. antecessor individuals and 10 fossil ribs of the H. erectus s. l. specimen KNM-WT 15000. Then we compared their relative mineralized area with that of the full, unilateral costal series of 27 H. sapiens individuals spanning different ontogenetic stages (pre-pubescent, post-pubescent, adult).
Our findings indicate that rib cross-sectional mineralized area of H. antecessor is close to that of subadult H. sapiens, sharing a similar U-shaped trend along the costal series. Values are considerably lower compared to KNM-WT 15000, which shows a higher mineralized area at the middle thoracic rib levels rather than at the extremes. (…)

Rediscovered Late Upper Palaeolithic Painted Imagery at Bacon Hole, Gower Peninsula, South Wales, di G. H. Nash et alii, "Quaternary", volume 9, issue 3 (june 2026), 43 - open access -

Recent and ongoing fieldwork at Bacon Hole, located on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales, is being conducted by an international team of researchers. This work includes pigment analysis and a chronometric dating programme focused on a vertical painted surface within a side chamber. The painted surface is considered a product of human agency, specifically applied haematite. Originally identified in 1912 by Professor William Sollas and Henri Breuil as Palaeolithic cave art, the painted panel was dismissed by 1928. In September 2022, the painted surface, along with other potential paintings, was rediscovered. In April 2023, the First Art team sampled the pigments for organic residues, while a team from the University of Southampton collected samples from several calcite flows overlying the painted surface for uranium–thorium dating. As a scientific control for the initial dating programme, the First Art team, in collaboration with scientists from Nanjing Normal University, conducted a second round of sample collecting and analysis in May 2024. This paper presents a discussion of the history and archaeological significance of the site, along with the results of the pigment and dating analysis carried out in April 2023 and May 2024. (…)

New Insights into Mousterian Faunal Assemblages from Uluzzo C (Apulia, Southern Italy), di A. Fiorillo et alii, "Quaternary", volume 9, issue 3 (june 2026), 37 - open access -

Grotta-Riparo di Uluzzo C (Uluzzo Bay, Apulia, southern Italy) preserves a long and complex stratigraphic sequence spanning from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age, offering a valuable context for investigating depositional dynamics and human–environment interactions during the Late Pleistocene. Although recent multidisciplinary research has substantially advanced knowledge of the Uluzzian occupations, the Mousterian faunal record of the site has remained largely unexplored from zooarchaeological and taphonomic perspectives. This study examines the faunal assemblages from the Mousterian layers (E, F, and G), integrating material from historical excavations with those recovered during recent fieldwork. Zooarchaeological, taphonomic, and Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) analyses are combined to reconstruct local environmental conditions, evaluate the relative contribution of human and non-human agents to bone accumulation, and assess patterns of site use and deposit formation. The faunal spectrum indicates an ecologically heterogeneous landscape, consistent with a Mediterranean refugial setting during the Late Pleistocene. Taphonomic evidence points to complex and cumulative formation processes resulting from repeated, short-term human occupations interspersed with carnivore activity and natural depositional processes. The Mousterian deposits are therefore best interpreted as brief palimpsests rather than the result of continuous or intensive occupation. Placed within a regional framework, the Uluzzo C assemblages contribute to broader discussions on site formation processes and environmental variability in southern Italy and provide an important comparative baseline for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic period. (…)

Cave morphology and human-mediated sediment deposition: Late Pleistocene to Holocene evolution of the cave floor at Panga ya Saidi, coastal Kenya, di J. M. Miller et alii, 20 may 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347491 - open access -

Panga ya Saidi (PYS), a cave situated in a forested upland near the coast of Kenya, contains an archaeological record that spans at least 78,000 years and is crucial for understanding the evolution of Homo sapiens populations in eastern Africa. Here we report on new systematic excavation, three-dimensional scanning, radiocarbon dating, and geoarchaeological analyses that provide insights on sedimentary dynamics, occupation patterns, and site-formation processes at PYS. Our data show that while unroofed parts of the cave probably contain the deepest stratigraphies, these are likely to be dominated by colluvial influx and yield limited cultural deposits. Sheltered zones near the chamber edges exhibit better stratigraphic integrity and higher artifact densities, with deposits exceeding 5.5 meters in thickness in the main excavation area. In this area, marked shifts in occupation intensity and sediment sources enable us to reconstruct the evolution of the inhabited cave space. Our findings underscore PYS as a key site for understanding human behavior, adaptation, and environmental interactions from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene, with implications for broader interpretations of the evolution of Homo sapiens populations in eastern Africa. (…)

Aggiornamento 17/05/2026

The first Large Flake Acheulean in Europe at Revilleja de Valparaíso site, Hortigüela, Spain, di F. J. García-Vadillo et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 383, 1 July 2026, article: 109977 - open access -

Revilleja de Valparaíso (Hortigüela, Burgos, Spain) is a Large Flake Acheulean (LFA) lithic assemblage on the Iberian Peninsula that is crucial for understanding the technical traditions on which the European Acheulean in the Early Middle Pleistocene was founded. These lithic industries were discovered in an alluvial deposit that has been dated to 696 ± 32 ka (MIS 17), using Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclides (680 ± 60 ka) and Electron Spin Resonance on quartz (702 ± 32 ka), and forms the base of a higher degraded terrace, whose strath is currently preserved at +29-30 m above the River Arlanza (Duero basin). It is a strategic location that conserves a quartzite lithic assemblage with large cutting tools (LCTs) frequently knapped on flakes. (…)

Revolution, modernity, and the dispersal of Homo sapiens beyond Africa, di H. S. Groucutt, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 383, 1 July 2026, article: 109981 - open access -

In the recent past, evolutionarily speaking, every other kind of hominin, from the Neanderthals of western Eurasia to the ‘hobbits’ of Flores, became extinct while our species prospered and spread across the world, from remote islands to high mountains. Understanding how, why, and when this global spread of Homo sapiens occurred is a major question in human evolutionary studies. While there is broad agreement on our African origin and subsequent global expansion, currently fossil, genetic, and archaeological data and perspectives on the details of this process are, if not actively contradictory, then certainly uncomfortable bedfellows. In part, this uncertainty reflects the profound spatial and temporal biases in currently available archaeological, fossil, and genetic samples. (…)

A Late Pleistocene human tooth from Khutul Usny Cave (FV 8), Mongolia – New evidence for early occupation of Eastern Central Asia by Homo sapiens, di M. Masojć et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 383, 1 July 2026, article: 109994 - open access -

Due to the extreme climatic and environmental conditions unfavorable to survival, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) is considered to be a time of depopulation in most of Mongolian territory. Archaeological evidence of human presence around the LGM period is scarce, and human fossils are absent. Here, we present a newly discovered human tooth from the Khutul Usny Cave - site FV 8, in the Gobi Altai region of Mongolia, indirectly dated to ∼31-28 ka cal BP. It is a permanent maxillary right lateral incisor most likely belonging to a Homo sapiens individual. Besides the skullcap from Salkhit, this tooth is the second fossil of an early Homo sapiens in Mongolia and the first with secure archaeological and geological context. (...)

Life during the Mesolithic in the Cantabrian region: new carbon, nitrogen and strontium isotopic data from dentine sequences and enamel from Los Canes Cave (Asturias, Northern Spain), di A. Higuero-Pliego et alii, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 6, june 2026, article number 132 - open access -

The Mesolithic period has a long history of study in the Cantabrian region (Northern Iberia) due to the relatively high concentration of human remains dating to this period. Previous analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes focussed on bone collagen, useful in broadly characterising Mesolithic diet, and particularly in identifying distinct inland and coastal diets. But this long-term average view does not permit the study of variation throughout the year that we might expect to see in hunter-gatherer diets. In this study, we present new radiocarbon dates and sequential dentine data from Los Canes Cave (Asturias), as well as some of the first enamel strontium isotope results for the area. All the new and old radiocarbon dates fell within the 6th millennium, indicating the long use of Los Canes for funerary activity. (…)

What Is the Acheulean? di M. H. Moncel et alii, "Evolutionary Anthropology", volume 35, issue 2, june 2026 - open access -

The Acheulean represents the longest cultural period known to human history, lasting globally for more than 1.75 million years. It may have emerged as early as 1.95 Ma in Africa, spreading throughout much of the continent and then into Eurasia and lasting up to 350–200 ka in western Europe and South Asia, and even later in eastern Asia. Originally defined in the 1870s, the term Acheulean is one of the earliest and most contested classifications in prehistoric archaeology. Almost 150 years after its first appearance, it remains a source of continuous debate. This paper summarizes roundtable discussions that took place at the Musée de l'Homme (Paris) in November 2025 that focused on the meaning of the Acheulean and the diversity of its manifestations across Eurasia. Some 20 researchers, from various institutions across Europe, Asia, and the Pacific participated in this event, during which it became clear that the Acheulean had different meanings to the participants. (…)

Expanding Homo erectus, di D. Biggs, B. Farkas, B. Wood, "Evolutionary Anthropology", volume 35, issue 2, june 2026

We focus on three researchers—Davidson Black, Franz Weidenreich and Ralph von Koenigswald—who have made major contributions to the recovery of the fossil record of the hominin taxon now known as Homo erectus. Black was responsible for the recognition of Sinanthropus pekinensis and for the recovery of the initial hypodigm from Choukoutien*. Almost all of the original S. pekinensis fossils were lost during the Second World War, but the precise documentation and meticulous descriptions prepared by Franz Weidenreich substantially mitigate their loss. (…)

Differential Taphonomic Behavior of Flint Types: Experimental Insights and Implications for the Middle Stone Age Assemblages of Wadi Lazalim in the Northern Sahara (Kebili, Tunisia), di O. Scancarello et alii, "Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory", volume 33, issue 2, june 2026, article number 23 - open access -

Several syn and post-depositional processes are responsible for different degrees of site and assemblage formation and disturbance. Understanding the processes that lead to archaeological site formation is essential for interpreting past human activities, settlement patterns, and occupation dynamics. Among these processes, water flow is commonly recognized as a major factor influencing site and assemblage formation and integrity. Lithic taphonomy can add valuable information to the understanding of these natural processes. To better evaluate how different flint types react to both mechanical and chemical stresses, we carried out controlled and sequential experiments on knapped flint artifact replicas. (…)

The First Occupations of Western Europe: Dispersals and Population Dynamics in the Early to Middle Pleistocene, di C. Cucart-Mora et alii, "Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory", volume 33, issue 2, june 2026, article number 19 - open access -

The occupation of Western Europe is part of a greater process, the first “Out of Africa”. Within this process, a wide chronological gap is documented between the first occupations in Asia and those in Western Europe. The earliest occupations of Western Europe are dated around 1.4–1.2 Ma and located in Southern Europe, in the Iberian Peninsula and Italy. A punctuated advance towards the North is discerned with the first occupations in England being as old as 0.9 Ma. Through a synthesis of up-to-date literature, this paper aims to provide an updated, robust and more integrated understanding of the processes that shaped the earliest human occupations of Western Europe. Throughout our review and analysis, the early occupation of Western Europe is revealed as a complex, multi-phased process marked by episodic population incursions and turnovers. (…)

Paleoenvironmental and behavioral insights into firewood selection by early Middle Pleistocene hominins, di E. Allué, N. Goren-Inbar, Y. Melamed, B. Urban, N. Alperson-Afil, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 382, 15 june 2026, article: 109973 - open access -

The control of fire offered early hominins significant advantages, yet its identification in early archaeological sites is challenging. A new anthracological study at the early Middle Pleistocene site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov (GBY) offers valuable insights from an exceptionally large assemblage of charcoal. Taxonomic analysis reveals a diverse range of habitats, including species such as Fraxinus, Salix, Vitis, Nerium, Olea, Quercus, Pistacia, and Punica granatum. The charcoal exhibits greater taxonomic diversity than other plant remains from the site (wood, seeds, fruits), and this high diversity is notably spatially concentrated within a specific charcoal cluster. The charcoal from GBY reveals habitual firewood gathering, likely driven by the availability of lakeshore driftwood. The demanding task of maintaining fires likely shaped hominin base camp selection. The GBY hominins repeatedly occupied the lakeshore, choosing this specific point in the landscape not only due to the availability of raw materials, fauna, flora, and fresh water, but also to the availability of firewood. (…)

Marine mammals and body ornaments in the Upper Palaeolithic: a rare example of a seal tooth pendant from Kents Cavern, Devon, U.K., di S. A. Parfitt, L. Crété, R. Dinnis, C. Lucas, B. Chandler, S. M. Bello, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 382, 15 june 2026, article: 109902 - open access -

Personal ornaments, such as beads and pendants, played a crucial role in Upper Palaeolithic societies, representing social status, cultural identity, and individual expression. This study describes an intensively worked, perforated, and polished tooth of a grey seal discovered during William Pengelly's 1867 excavation at Kents Cavern, UK, a unique find within the British context but with parallels to similar items found at Upper Palaeolithic sites in France and Spain. Our analysis represents the first investigation of an Upper Palaeolithic seal tooth pendant, integrating zooarchaeological methods with 3D and CT imaging techniques. This innovative approach sheds light on the manufacturing process, use, and post-depositional history of this artefact. Wear traces suggest the pendant was suspended from a cord and worn for an extended period. (…)

A review of European Middle Pleistocene hominin evolution, di A. Rosas, A. García-Tabernero, J. A. Alarcon, J. F. Pastor, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 381, 1 june 2026, article: 109951 - open access -

The European Middle Pleistocene hominin record plays a central role in debates on evolutionary processes underlying the origin and emergence of the Neanderthal lineage, yet it remains characterized by pronounced morphological variability and persistent taxonomic uncertainty. Over the last decades, this record has been interpreted through a wide range of evolutionary models that differ in their assumptions about population continuity, demographic inputs and the geographical provenance of hominin groups. These models include: (1) basic continuity scenarios deriving Middle Pleistocene populations from indigenous Early Pleistocene groups; (2) total replacement models invoking complete population turnover; (3) coexistence models proposing multiple contemporaneous lineages; (4) eastern source–sink and CADE models based on recurrent dispersals from Southwest Asia; (5) west-to-east expansion models suggesting a western European origin for key Neanderthal traits; and (6) dual Acheulean-source models positing independent dispersals into different regions of Europe. (…)

Combining paleocurrents and sea level in a least-cost pathway model of human dispersal from Sunda to Sahul, 65–45,000 years ago, di M. Borreggine et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 381, 1 june 2026, article: 109950

This article examines the migration from Sunda to Sahul 65,000 to 45,000 years ago. The timing, methodology, and location of the migration have implications for early human communication, technology, and settlement. This movement through the Wallacean Archipelago constitutes the first known great oversea migration by early humans. We aim to determine optimal departure times and pathways from Sunda to Sahul taken by Late Pleistocene migrants given environmental inputs. We use global- and regional-scale climate models, a gravitationally self-consistent sea level model, and a least-cost pathway (LCP) model to consider the role of surface ocean currents, island intervisibility, and time at sea in the passage. The Community Earth System Model simulates initial and boundary conditions for the MIT General Circulation Model, which produces paleo-ocean currents. (…)

Swartkrans Paranthropus and Sterkfontein Australopithecus from southern Africa had different locomotor repertoires, di M. Cazenave et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 19 may 2026, vol. 123, no. 20, e2532193123 - open access -

Southern African hominin fossils traditionally attributed to Paranthropus robustus and Australopithecus africanus are differentiated from each other by their dentition and cranial architecture, but their postcranial anatomy has typically been regarded functionally as broadly similar (i.e., terrestrial bipedalism with some degree of arboreal locomotion). Testing the hypothesis of a similar locomotor repertoire between these two taxa has been complicated by a lack of postcranial fossils attributable to P. robustus. Here, we detail our comparative examination of the internal bone anatomy of a recently described c. 1.8 Ma P. robustus articulating femur and tibia, which suggests distinct patterns of joint loading and locomotor behavior. (…)

Geoarchaeology at La Sima Cave. A multi-analysis approach to the Middle Paleolithic during MIS 3 in southern Iberia, di J. A. Caro-Gómez et alii, "Quaternary International", volume 764, 15 may 2026, 110209

Since the 2010s, archaeological investigations at the La Sima Cave site (Seville, Spain) have documented an extensive geoarchaeological record characterized by the presence of paleontological remains, hearth structures, and Paleolithic lithic industries. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a geoarchaeological analysis of the “Galería Antigua” sector of the site, based on the examination of several stratigraphic profiles. Through the application of soil-sedimentological, archaeological, and geochronological analytical techniques, distinct geoarchaeological units (GAUs) have been identified. (…)

Earliest evidence for invasive mitigation of dental caries by Neanderthals, di A. V. Zubova et alii, 13 may 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347662 - open access -

Neanderthal medical knowledge has long attracted scholarly interest. Evidence suggests they cared for sick, injured, and elderly group members, with possible use of medicinal plants. However, it remains uncertain whether such practices reflect deliberate medical strategies or instinctive self-medication akin to that observed in non-human primates. Here, we analyze and interpret traces of deliberate artificial manipulation of Chagyrskaya 64, a Neanderthal lower left second molar found in Chagyrskaya Cave (Altai Krai, Russia). The tooth exhibits a large human-generated concavity on the occlusal surface, created during the lifetime of the individual. Traceological and microtomographic analyses of the observed modifications, combined with experimental verification, reveal that the concavity in Chagyrskaya 64 is indicative of the earliest documented instance of caries treatment involving the drilling/rotating with a lithic perforator, ca. 59 ka. (…)

Climatic mechanisms underlying a southwestern French Neanderthal refugium at the onset of the last glaciation, di M. F. Sánchez Goñi, F. d’Errico, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 12 may 2026, vol. 123, no. 19, e2610884123

Fotiadou et al. (1) present compelling archaeogenetic evidence for a major demographic contraction of Neanderthals followed by a re-expansion across Europe originating from a refugium in southwestern France around ~65 ka. This result significantly advances our understanding of Late Neanderthal population dynamics. However, the study leaves unresolved a key question: Why did a refugium emerge at relatively high latitude in southwestern France, rather than in the southern European peninsulas that acted as refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and later served as sources for the recolonization of Europe (2, 3)? We suggest that this apparent paradox can be explained by the specific climatic configuration affecting the western European margin during the onset of glaciation (~76 to 68 ka), as documented by multiproxy paleoclimatic records from the Bay of Biscay (…)

Swartkrans Paranthropus and Sterkfontein Australopithecus from southern Africa had different locomotor repertoires, di M. Cazenave et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 11 may 2026, 123 (20), e2532193123, doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2532193123 - open access -

Southern African hominin fossils traditionally attributed to Paranthropus robustus and Australopithecus africanus are differentiated from each other by their dentition and cranial architecture, but their postcranial anatomy has typically been regarded functionally as broadly similar (i.e., terrestrial bipedalism with some degree of arboreal locomotion). Testing the hypothesis of a similar locomotor repertoire between these two taxa has been complicated by a lack of postcranial fossils attributable to P. robustus. Here, we detail our comparative examination of the internal bone anatomy of a recently described c. 1.8 Ma P. robustus articulating femur and tibia, which suggests distinct patterns of joint loading and locomotor behavior. (…)

Raw Material Sourcing Analyses of Ochre and Stone Tools from the Middle Stone Age site of Mwulu’s Cave (Limpopo, South Africa), di G. Mauran, D. Masia, T. Hodgskiss, F. Colino Polo, Z. Jinnah, P. de la Peña, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, article number 21, 07 may 2026 - open access -

Southern Africa’s Middle Stone Age saw major breakthroughs in early human technology and culture, including heat treatment of stone and ochre use. These practices emerged during MIS 5 (130–71 ka) and reflect growing social cohesion and shared traditions within hunter-gatherer communities. By forming distinct communities of practice, these groups passed down knowledge and skills, shaping cultural evolution across diverse regions. Lithics and ochre have often been studied separately, thus, research combining their provenance remains rare. This study presents the joint analysis of both materials from Mwulu’s Cave (Limpopo, South Africa), using exploratory pXRF, petrography, SEM-EDS, and PIXE to trace their origins. (…)

"PaleoAnthropology", volume 2026, issue 1, 2026-05-08, doi: https://doi.org/10.48738/2026.iss1:

- A Reinvestigation of the Upper Paleolithic Postcranial Human Remains from the La Rochette Rock Shelter (Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, France), di D. Naumann, K.  Harvati, pp. 1-27

- Does Point Size Matter? How Morphometric Arguments Impact Evolutionary Models of Paleolithic Weaponry, di J. Coppe, V. Rots, pp. 28-51

- Taphonomic Analysis of Early Pleistocene Fossil Localities of the Olteţ River Valley, Romania, di  S. Curran et alii, pp. 52-81

- A Refined Chronology for the Middle–Upper Paleolithic Transition at Kozarnika Cave (Bulgaria) 40–50,000 Years Ago, di R. Hopkins et alii, pp. 82-98

- The New Neanderthal Fossil Sample from Grotta Guattari, Monte Circeo (Italy): A Preliminary Synopsis, di A. Sperduti et alii, pp. 99-121

- Symbolism Without Symbols? The Unsoundness of the Artifact to Symbol Inference in Paleolithic Archaeology, di K. Kuipers, M. Soressi, H. Zwart, pp. 230-244

Early evidence for a stable and flexible foraging niche in the evolution of Homo, di F. Forrest et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 4 may 2026, 123 (20), e2537631123, doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2537631123

Major evolutionary transitions in Homo (e.g., increased brain size, complex social behavior) are linked to reliance on high-quality foods. Increased meat consumption likely contributed to this shift, but whether hominins practiced carcass acquisition and processing strategies consistently across time and environments remains unclear. The Koobi Fora Formation spans much of the Plio-Pleistocene and is central to reconstructing the ecology of early Homo. However, zooarchaeological research has focused almost entirely on the Okote Member (~1.56 to 1.38 Ma), while the KBS Member (~1.87 to 1.56 Ma) has yielded important hominin fossils but relatively few faunal assemblages comparably well preserved for similar analysis. (…)

Les enfants néandertaliens grandissaient plus vite que ceux des Homo sapiens, 2 mai 2026

La grotte d’Amud est un gisement du Paléolithique moyen, situé dans la vallée du Nahal Amud, à environ 5 km au nord-ouest de la mer de Galilée, dans le rift de la mer Morte. À une altitude de 110 m sous le niveau actuel de la mer, la grotte se trouve à environ 30 m au-dessus du fond de la vallée. Située dans la haute Galilée orientale, la grotte d’Amud se trouve dans la zone écologique méditerranéenne, caractérisée par un paysage en mosaïque dont la végétation varie considérablement en fonction de l’altitude et de la disponibilité en eau. Au total, les restes de seize individus, tous néandertaliens, dont la majorité était constituée de dents isolées et d’os longs fragmentés, ont été mis au jour. Ils proviennent des couches du Paléolithique moyen de la grotte d’Amud. Parmi eux, on observe une forte présence de nourrissons et de jeunes enfants, un phénomène qui, à première vue, contraste avec les schémas de mortalité observés chez Néandertal. (…)

The last Acheulean at El Sotillo complex site (Ciudad Real, Spain). Features, parallels and age, di M. Santonja et alii, "Quaternary International", volume 763, 1 may 2026, 110196 - open access -

The site of El Sotillo has several distinct stratigraphic levels containing Acheulean and Mousterian lithic tools, dated to the final third of the Middle Pleistocene and the later phases of the Upper Pleistocene. It is uncommon to find open-air sites, that preserve such intensive and recurrent human occupations in stratigraphic position over an extended time range, which underscores the complex nature of the site. Excavations carried out between 2017 and 2019 have enabled the integration of El Sotillo into the broader geological and geomorphological context of the area. They have also made it possible to establish the stratigraphic sequence, document its archaeological complexity, and obtain numerical dates that define its chronology. (…)

Cranial Morphology of a 21,000-Year-Old Homo sapiens From Southwest China, di S. Lin, Y. Zhao, S. Xing,  "American Journal of Biological Anthropology", volume 190, issue 1, may 2026, e70265

This study reports a new hominin cranium, dated to 21,000 years ago, offering novel insights into the evolutionary pattern of the cranial morphology of the East Asian Homo sapiens over the past 40,000 years. The cranium (22IVPP-H-Cr01) was scanned and virtually reconstructed. Its morphology was described and compared primarily with other fossil H. sapiens. To better contextualize cranial variation, specimens of Homo heidelbergensis, East Asian late Middle Pleistocene archaic Homo, Homo neanderthalensis, and recent H. sapiens were also added to the comparative sample. Additionally, cranial measurements were conducted on the 22IVPP-H-Cr01 and compared with those of other taxonomic groups to assess its evolutionary status through principal component analysis. (…)

"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 5, may 2026:

- Evolving entanglements with highland southern Africa: Site formation, initial chronology, and occupational pulsing during the Middle Pleistocene at Likonong Shelter, Lesotho, di K. Pazan et alii

- Examining indicators of hunter-gatherer mobility in arid environments: The example of the final Middle Paleolithic site of Besor 37 (Northern Negev, Israel), di M. Goder-Goldberger et alii

- Unretouched flake production as a characteristic of the pre-Still Bay at Sibhudu Cave, South Africa, di R. Matsileng Moll, L. Wadley

- Changing subsistence strategies during the MSA I and MSA II: a zooarchaeological analysis of the vertebrate fauna from the Witness Baulk at Klasies River Main Site: South Africa, di A. Pearson, S. Wurz, K. L. van Niekerk, J. P. Reynard

- Handaxe diversity at the end of the Acheulean: The character and significance of handaxe assemblages from MIS 9 Britain in European context, di A. Rawlinson, F. Foulds, C. Shipton, N. Ashton, L. Dale, M. White

"Two tribes": Handaxe shape variation shows distinct regional cultural groups in southeastern Britain between 424000 and 374000 BP, di M. White, F. Foulds, A. Rawlinson, C. Shipton, R. Davis, N. Ashton, "Journal of Quaternary Science", volume 41, issue 4, may 2026, pages 602-621 - open access -

This paper examines regional and chronological variations in Acheulean handaxe morphology during Marine Isotope Stage 11 (c. 425–365 ka BP) in Britain. Using a data set of 737 handaxes from 13 securely dated sites in East Anglia and the Thames Valley, we apply three-dimensional geometric morphometric analysis to examine morphological variability. Our results show that two distinct handaxe forms were present in different areas of Britain during MIS 11: sub-stage MIS 11c assemblages in East Anglia are dominated by ovate handaxes with twisted edges, while contemporaneous Thames Valley assemblages are characterised by pointed forms. By sub-stage MIS 11a, Thames Valley sites shift to ovate handaxes with twisted edges, whereas East Anglia now shows a predominance of pointed forms. (…)

Elucidating the use of rhinoceros teeth by Neanderthals: Between experiments and the fossil record, di A. Sanz-Royo et alii, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 214, may 2026, article: 103829 - open access -

The use of faunal remains as tools by Neanderthals has long intrigued researchers. These remains include mammal teeth, which are particularly durable and resistant. Nevertheless, there is a significant gap in taphonomic analysis of dental remains, and archaeological experiments with tooth tools remain scarce. Recent studies suggest that Paleolithic groups may have used rhinoceros teeth as tools. This work seeks to elucidate this question by applying a multidisciplinary approach, including taphonomic and traceological analyses using various microscopic imaging techniques. We applied this approach to several rhinoceros teeth from key archaeological, paleontological, and contemporary collections. (…)

Local environmental change and fallow deer hunting at Amud Cave: Evidence from a combined plant wax and tooth enamel isotope study, di C. Zeigen, E. Hovers, A. Brittingham, M. T. Hren, M. P. Richards, R. Rabinovich, G. Hartman, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 214, may 2026, article: 103830 - open access -

Neanderthal presence in the southern Levant has raised questions regarding behavioral flexibility and adaptation strategies across diverse climatic and ecological settings. The association of most Levantine Neanderthal sites with the last glacial period has led some researchers to frame their presence and subsequent disappearance from the region as climatically driven. Increasingly, the use of site-specific paleoenvironmental proxies and recognition of Neanderthal behavioral complexity are challenging simple climate-driven explanations, suggesting resilience to ecological impacts. Amud Cave is a key Levantine Middle Paleolithic site documenting Neanderthal occupation from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 through early MIS 3. Its two discrete occupation phases provide a framework for comparing local environmental dynamics across fluctuating glacial conditions. Here, we present an isotopic study of fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica) tooth enamel and plant waxes extracted from archaeological sediments directly associated with Neanderthal activity. (…)

Corrigendum to “The site of Notarchirico (Venosa Basin, Italy) and the hominin behaviour in the Middle Pleistocene: New insights from taphonomy and spatial archaeology” [J. Hum. Evol. 211 (2026) 103789], di A. Pineda, B. Mecozzi, A. Iannucci, P. Saladié, M. Carpentieri, R. Sardella, M. H. Moncel, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 214, may 2026, article: 103838

The influence of cognitive evolution on handaxe making skill in the Acheulean, di A. Muller, C. Shipton, G. Sharon, L. Grosman, "Journal of Archaeological Science", volume 189, may 2026, article: 106539 - open access -

Reconstructing the complex human behaviours that manifest in the Palaeolithic archaeological record remains an elusive but important challenge for capturing traces of how the human mind evolved. The roughly 1.5 million years of handaxe-making throughout the Acheulean provides a consistently preserved manifestation of hominin technological skills. Here, we analyse 1108 3D scans of handaxes from 12 sites in the Great Rift Valley of eastern Africa and the southern Levant spanning much of the Acheulean. We set out to chart the evolution of Acheulean toolmaking skill using a suite of computational 3D methods to quantify how well these handaxes have been thinned, shaped, and sharpened; traits which demand manual dexterity, planning, and hierarchical cognition. (…)

Hunting for survival: Archaeozoological and taphonomic evidence for hunting practices at Vlakno Cave in the Terminal Pleistocene, eastern Adriatic, di A. Barbir, S. Radović, D. Vujević, "Quaternary International", volume 762, 30 april 2026, 110202

Vlakno Cave, located in the central part of the eastern Adriatic, preserves an undisturbed Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sequence. Excavations revealed a rich faunal assemblage dating to the Late Upper Palaeolithic. Given the geomorphological sensitivity of the Adriatic region to climatic and environmental fluctuations, this study investigates hunting strategies during the final phase of the Upper Palaeolithic. Through archaeozoological and taphonomic analyses, we examined prey selection across Strata 5 and 4, transport decisions, and the exploitation of carcasses. The results indicate that red deer remained the principal prey in both strata, while the younger stratum shows an increase in small mammals (fox, hare) and a decline in larger herbivores (equids, bovids). (…)

Halibee member archaeology: Middle Stone Age environment, technology, and postmortem modifications, di Y. Beyene et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 28 april 2026, vol. 123, no. 17, e2534441123

The Middle Awash study area of Ethiopia’s Afar Rift features a composite stratigraphic thickness of >1 km. Near the top of this succession lie sediments of the lower Halibee member, comprising the Faro Daba and Chai Baro beds. The former are radioisotopically dated to ~100,000 y in age and contain abundant fossils and associated lithic artifacts representing the Middle Stone Age (MSA). Geological, paleontological, and archaeological datasets recovered from these sediments enlarge a sparse later Pleistocene record of African human evolution, a time before anatomically modern populations of our species expanded into Eurasia. The Faro Daba occurrences comprise the richest, least disturbed, and most spatially extensive of many open-air MSA-bearing localities in the study area and beyond. Protected atop a resistant underlying conglomerate, the largely horizontal outcrops of the soft, eroding fossiliferous Faro Daba sediments provide spatially extensive access to in situ assemblages of artifacts and fossils. (…)

Neanderthal brain and cognition reconsidered, di P. Thomas Schoenemann, R, L. Holloway, J. Hong Gao, G. Yang, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 27 april 2026, 123 (19), e2426638123, doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2426638123

Neanderthal endocrania are different in shape, though slightly larger in size than modern humans on average. These shape differences have long been used to suggest Neanderthals differed cognitively from modern humans, e.g., by having inferior linguistic/symbolic ability, poorer executive function, and/or smaller episodic and working memory capacity. However, whether the morphological differences in their brains inferred from their endocrania indicate truly meaningful cognitive/behavioral differences—with real evolutionary implications—is not clear. Recent work using deformation mapping techniques suggested there had been significant brain differences between Neanderthal and the anatomically modern Homo sapiens (amHs) that were contemporary with them. (…)

From Stasis To Cyclic Variation: the Chronological Arrangement of the Mousterian in southwest France and Modes of Culture Change in the Late Middle Palaeolithic of western Europe, di P. Van Peer, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, article number 20, 21 april 2026 - open access -

The interpretation of Mousterian lithic variability patterns has been a long-standing issue in Palaeolithic archaeology. After a critical review of the variability debate, this paper reports on a novel examination using a large set of chronometric dates available for Mousterian sequences of southwest France and taking the long culture-stratigraphic succession of Combe-Grenal as a reference. This examination reveals a threefold recurrence of the same succession of Mousterian assemblage types across the entire region concerned. A surprisingly similar cyclic pattern in the succession of analogical typological constellations is evidenced in the late Micoquian sequence of Sesselfels Cave in Germany, suggesting that it may be a shared feature of both techno-complexes and rekindling the issue of their taxonomic distinction. (…)

New genetic evidence from Stajnia Cave reveals the oldest Neanderthal group reconstructed in Central-Eastern Europe, 20 apr 2026

An international study published in Current Biology presents the results of the analysis of ancient mitochondrial DNA obtained from eight Neanderthal teeth discovered in Stajnia Cave, Poland. For the first time, the research reconstructs the genetic profile of a small group of Neanderthals from the same site, north of the Carpathians, who lived during the same ancient chronological phase. “This is an extraordinary result because, for the first time, we are able to observe a small group of at least seven Neanderthals from Central-Eastern Europe who lived around 100,000 years ago,” says Andrea Picin, professor at the University of Bologna and coordinator of the research. “In most cases, Neanderthal genetic data come from single fossils or from remains scattered across different sites and periods. At Stajnia, by contrast, it has been possible to reconstruct a small group of individuals, providing for the first time a coherent genetic picture of Neanderthals in this part of Europe.” (…)

The Middle Palaeolithic of the Pindos Range and its Neighbouring Areas: New Evidence from SMR1 (Samarina, western Macedonia, Greece), di J. Gennai, P. Biagi, M. Ntinou, E. Starnini, N. Efstratiou, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, article number 19, 13 april 2026 - open access -

The Middle Palaeolithic record of the southern Balkans is largely known from open-air surface scatters that are often difficult or impossible to date and lack a clear stratigraphic context. In the area close to the Pindos range, only two sites—Theopetra cave and Asprochaliko rockshelter—yielded stratified Middle Palaeolithic deposits, while Kokkinopilos presents partial stratification, although artefacts from older excavations remain difficult to contextualise. Information on surface scatters is generally limited to typological assessments, with little insight into depositional processes or spatial distribution. SMR1 (Samarina, western Macedonia) represents an exceptionally large Middle Palaeolithic assemblage recovered from erosional patches. The site is on a terrace overlooking the Samariniotikos River located at 1517 m a.s.l. (…)

Shell game: Neanderthal use of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) in the Last Interglacial landscape of Neumark-Nord (Germany), di S. Gaudzinski-Windheuser, S. Böll, A. Griesch, L. Kindler, W. Roebroeks, "Scientific Reports", 08 April 2026, volume 16, article number: 8628 - open access -

Data on palaeolithic subsistence is often obtained through studies of faunal palimpsests, containing remains of animal processing activities accumulated over non-quantifiable amounts of time. Compounding such site-specific data with evidence from other sites distributed over large areas - i.e. integrating data spanning large temporal as well as spatial scales - results in coarse-grained reconstructions of past prey diversity. In contrast, here we present prey diversity data from what is—geologically speaking—a “snapshot” of a ~ 25-hectare area frequented by Neanderthals during the Last Interglacial, with a focus on their exploitation of the pond terrapin Emys orbicularis. These data constitute the first evidence of turtle exploitation by Neanderthals north of the European mountain chains, beyond the Mediterranean basin. (…)

Carved in stone: Experimental criteria for identifying Paleolithic bas-relief production techniques and sculptors’ expertise, di É. Brochard, L. Doyon, L. A. Courtenay, G. Tosello, L. Geis, F. d’Errico, 1 april 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0346099 - open access -

Paleolithic bas-relief is a rare yet technically demanding form of parietal art whose production methods and skill requirements remain poorly understood. Investigating their production is essential because carving methods and required skills reveal the degree of technical investment, cognitive planning, and craftsmanship mobilized by prehistoric artists. This study presents the first integrated experimental, qualitative, and quantitative investigation of their manufacture. Using Coniacian limestone blocks, we replicated 19 carving modalities, covering pecking, scraping, polishing, engraving, and sequential combinations, executed by participants ranging from novices to a professional sculptor. Each surface was documented through high-resolution photography, Reflectance Transformation Imaging, and 3D scanning, then analyzed via standardized descriptive criteria, roughness measurements, and elliptical Fourier analysis of engraving profiles. Results show that some techniques, such as pecking and engraving, leave distinctive traces, while scraping and polishing often produce overlapping surface signatures, especially when techniques are superimposed. (…)

Middle Paleolithic Bone Technology at the Abri Suard Site (Charente, France), di E. Téllez, A. Rodríguez-Hidalgo, L. Doyon, K. Genuite, D. López-Onaindia, N. Sala, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, article number 17, 01 april 2026 - open access -

Bone tools provide key insights into the technological behaviors of Palaeolithic human groups, as they exemplify the closely integrated relationship between subsistence practices and technological strategies. Far from being limited to the processing of animal carcasses for nutritional purposes, faunal remains were deliberately selected, modified, and incorporated into toolkits. This is particularly evident in retouchers and soft hammers, well-documented implements in Middle Paleolithic contexts that are often produced by recycling butchery by-products. The Abri Suard site (Charente, France) has provided evidence of ancient Neanderthals in western Europe, featuring evidence of bone tool technology, including at least 62 retouchers and 3 soft hammers from a total of 6,496 analyzed faunal remains. (…)

Nonmetric Traits at the Enamel-Dentine Junction and Crown Tissue Proportions of Canines and Premolars in Neandertals and Modern Humans: Impact of Sample Composition on Taxonomic Discrimination, di G. Becam, T. Chevalier, T. Colard, "American Journal of Biological Anthropology", volume 189, issue 4, april 2026, e70239

This study assesses the efficacy of analyzing nonmetric traits at the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) and tissue proportions of upper and lower canines and premolars to distinguish Neandertals from modern humans. It also evaluates the impact of sample composition and size for taxonomical analyses.
The sample includes 386 teeth (115 Neandertals, 271 modern humans). Nonmetric trait frequencies at the EDJ were recorded using a fossil adapted ASUDA system. Enamel and dentine-pulp volumes, EDJ surface area and dental tissue proportions in crown (3DAET, 3DRET, %Vcdp) were measured. (…)

Neanderthal incursions at a high-altitude “bear cave”: Reassessing Caverna Generosa in the southern Alps, di D. Delpiano, L. Angiolini, M. Peresani, F. Bona, "Journal of Quaternary Science", volume 41, issue 3, april 2026, pages 380-399

High-altitude “bear caves” provide unique windows into Middle Paleolithic human behavior, often reflecting sporadic Neanderthal occupations in challenging alpine environments. In this study, we present updated evidence from Caverna Generosa, a “bear cave” situated at 1450 m a.s.l. in the Lombard Prealps, Italy. Our research integrates new lithic analyses with recent micromorphological and paleontological data, offering a comprehensive understanding of the site's occupational history. Radiometric recalibration of existing dates, combined with comparative analyses of other high-altitude Neanderthal sites, refines the chronological framework of these occupations in a late phase of the Middle Paleolithic. Although sparse, the lithic assemblages from Caverna Generosa provide valuable insights into Neanderthal technological behaviors. (…)

A comparative multivariate analysis of spatial clustering in Neanderthal and anatomically modern human occupations, di A. Merino-Pelaz, L. Cobo-Sanchez, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 213, april 2026, article: 103825 - open access -

Neanderthal and anatomically modern human (AMH) occupations have long been hypothesized to differ in spatial organization, yet multisite quantitative comparisons remain scarce. Here we use cluster modeling to quantify four spatial metrics (parent intensity κ, cluster scale s, cluster strength ϕ, and sibling probability p) from 21 Middle Paleolithic (MP) and Upper Paleolithic (UP) assemblages, spanning cave and open-air contexts. We combine these metrics into two principal axes—compactness vs. dispersion and clustering scale—and assess their relationship to cultural period, site context, hearth counts, and functionality through regression analyses. Our results show that cultural affiliation is the strongest and most consistent predictor: UP sites are significantly more compact than MP ones, independent of context or occupation features. (...)

The lithic assemblage from the 700,000-year-old butchery site of Kalinga (Luzon Island, Philippines): New insights into technological variability in the Early Paleolithic in Island Southeast Asia, di J. Guibert et alii, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 213, april 2026, article: 103828

Despite a long history of archaeological and paleoanthropological research, our understanding of the Early Paleolithic in Island Southeast Asia remains limited as only a few sites with clear stratigraphic contexts—Mata Menge (Flores Island), Ngebung 2 (Java Island), Calio and Talepu (Sulawesi Island)—have been documented. This scarcity of well-stratified assemblages has led to a poor characterization of technological variability and cultural sequences, which mainly rely on surface collections and early typological classifications/facies (e.g., Pacitanian, Cabengian, Cabalwanian, Liwanian, Arubian, etc.). These classifications, mostly based on a handful of cobble artifacts, have long obscured the technological diversity of early hominin settlements in the region. The Kalinga site (Luzon Island, Philippines), dated to ca. 709 ka, provides a rare opportunity to examine an Early Paleolithic assemblage in a secure stratigraphic context. (…)

The axis (C2) from El Sidrón and its implications for Neanderthal upper cervical spine form, di C. A. Palancar, M. Bastir, D. García-Martinez, A. García-Tabernero, A. Rosas, "Journal of Human Evolution", volume 213, april 2026, article: 103816 - open access -

The atlas (C1) and axis (C2), the two first vertebrae of the spine, are key elements of the axial skeleton as they link the skull and the postcranium. As such, several works have focused on this region in earlier hominins (Gómez-Olivencia et al., 2007; Beaudet et al., 2020) and nonhuman Primates (Nalley and Grider-Potter, 2017). However, the study of the upper cervical spine of Neanderthals has been only included in more systematic works (Gómez-Olivencia et al., 2013; Haeusler et al., 2019), with the exception of the study of Palancar et al. (2020b). The latter presented the atlases from El Sidrón (Asturias, Spain) and compared them with other Neanderthals and modern humans, showing differences (see below) between them. (…)

Archaeogenetic insights into the demographic history of Late Neanderthals, di C. M. Fotiadou et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 31 march 2026, vol. 123, no. 13, e2520565123 - open access -

The demographic history of Neanderthals is only partially understood. In Europe, some degree of genetic continuity has been shown from 120 thousand years ago (ka) onward despite the occurrence of multiple subsequent diversification events. While it has been proposed that a population turnover preceded the emergence of Late Neanderthals in Europe, the extent, timing, and geographic location of this event are currently unknown. Here, we report ten mitochondrial DNA sequences (mtDNAs) of Neanderthal individuals from six archaeological sites in Belgium, France, Germany and Serbia, and analyze them alongside 49 published mtDNAs. The integration of phylogenetic and molecular dating analyses with an extensive archaeological dataset enabled us to reconstruct temporal and spatial patterns in Neanderthal distribution. (…)

A high-coverage Neandertal genome from the Altai Mountains reveals population structure among Neandertals, di D. Massilani et alii, "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences", 31 march 2026, vol. 123, no. 13, e2534576123 - open access -

We present a genome sequenced to ~37-fold genomic coverage from an approximately 110,000-y-old male Neandertal from Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains and analyze it together with previously published Neandertal genomes of high quality. We show that he belonged to a population more closely related to a ~120,000-y-old Neandertal from Denisova Cave than to Neandertals in Europe or to a ~80,000-y-old Neandertal from Chagyrskaya Cave in the Altai Mountains. Both Neandertals from Denisova Cave show evidence of gene flow from Denisovans, a pattern not seen in later Neandertals from the Altai region or from Western Europe. The extent of chromosomal regions of homozygosity in Neandertals from the Altai region between 120,000 and 80,000 y ago indicates that they lived in smaller and more isolated groups than later Neandertals in Europe (54,000 to 40,000 y ago). (…)

A Multi-Isotope Approach to Early Childhood Palaeolithic Diet and Provenance from a Magdalenian Individual from Northern Iberia, di A. Higuero-Pliego et alii, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, article number 14, 31 march 2026 - open access -

Multi-isotope analysis on various body tissues is increasingly used in archaeology and palaeontology to provide valuable information about an individual’s life-history at different temporal resolutions (isobiographies). This paper presents the dietary and mobility reconstruction and anthropological study of a recently identified Magdalenian child from Los Canes cave (Asturias, Spain), through conventional osteological analysis, sequential stable carbon and nitrogen (δ13C and δ15N) isotope analysis of tooth dentine and strontium (87Sr/86Sr) analysis of tooth enamel from an upper deciduous canine, accompanied by δ13C and δ15N measurements of bone collagen from an incomplete mandible, posited to belong to the same individual. (…)

Replication as Salvation: The Politics of Open Science and the Recurring Allure of Scientism in Deep-Time Lithic Studies, di S. T. Hussain, "Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology", volume 9, issue 1, december 2026, article number 15, 31 march 2026 - open access -

There is a nascent body of literature in deep-time lithic studies that has declared replication as a primary, perhaps an overriding, aim of research, diagnosing the field to be affected by the so-called replication crisis across the sciences, and positioning reproducibility and replicability at the core of what (lithic) science ought to be. This paper examines this emerging debate, its rhetorics, and its underlying normative and epistemological commitments. I caution against the tendency to muster replication as a new-found yardstick or gold standard of scientificity, to conflate science with replication, and to thereby overlook the broader knowledge-making interests and goals of the field as a whole. I propose that current debates on replication are strongly premised on a specific vision of what science is, which not only appears to be anachronistic but also threatens to promote dangerous tropes of scientism and to restrict the scope of lithic inquiry, hence conflicting with core values such as epistemic diversity and justice long deemed central to scientific pursuits. (…)

Comparing Neanderthal Introgression Maps Reveals Core Agreement But Substantial Heterogeneity, di Y. Chen, K. Velazquez-Arcelay, J. A. Capra, "Molecular Biology and Evolution", volume 43, issue 3, march 2026 - open access -

Statistical methods to identify Neanderthal ancestry in modern human genomes rest on varying assumptions and inputs. Nonetheless, most studies of introgression use only a single method to define Neanderthal ancestry. Due to a lack of “ground truth,” we have a limited understanding of the accuracy, comparative strengths and weaknesses, and the sensitivity of downstream conclusions for these methods. Here, we performed large-scale comparisons of 14 genome-wide introgression maps computed by 11 representative Neanderthal introgression detection algorithms: admixfrog, ArchaicSeeker2, ArchIE, ARGweaver-D, CRF, DICAL-ADMIX, hmmix, IBDmix, SARGE, Sprime, and S*. (...)

The Tagus Valley Rock Complex, Portugal: A chronological proposalLe complexe d’art rupestre de la vallée du Tage, Portugal: une proposition chronologique, di S. Garcês, "L'Anthropologie", volume 130, issue 1, january–march 2026

The Tagus Valley Rock Art Complex in central Portugal constitutes one of the most extensive concentrations of open-air engravings in Europe, comprising nearly 7,000 figures distributed across 12 sites along 40 km of the Tagus River basin. First documented in 1971, the complex preserves a long and continuous artistic sequence ranging from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Late Bronze Age. Early documentation efforts, especially the large-scale latex mould programme of the 1970s, enabled the preservation and study of a vast corpus of motifs despite the submersion of many panels following the construction of the Fratel dam. (...)

Art rupestre des Alpes Cottiennes: peintures et gravures préhistoriquesRock art in the Cottian Alps: Prehistoric paintings and engravings, di D. Seglie, Piero Ricchiardi, "L'Anthropologie", volume 130, issue 1, january–march 2026

Le CeSMAP de Pinerolo, en Italie, Centre d’Études et Musée d’Art Préhistorique, a été fondé en 1964 afin de poursuivre les études archéologiques menées au XIXe siècle dans les Alpes occidentales par des chercheurs de l’Académie royale des sciences de Turin. Dès sa création, le CeSMAP a ressenti le besoin d’étendre ses recherches au-delà de son champ d’action initial afin de mieux contextualiser et comprendre un phénomène archaïque caractéristique de l’arc alpin : l’art rupestre. Ce domaine constitue un objet spécifique et un axe de spécialisation de la recherche archéologique du CeSMAP. Le Piémont est bordé à l’ouest par la chaîne alpine, formée par des poussées orogéniques survenues au Tertiaire dans le bassin méditerranéen. (…)

Un nouvel ensemble de manifestations pariétales sur le panneau principal de la grotte de Tito Bustillo (Asturies, Espagne)A new set of parietal manifestations on the main panel of the Tito Bustillo cave (Asturias, Spain), di Á. Ibero, M. Polledo González, "L'Anthropologie", volume 130, issue 1, january–march 2026

Cet article présente un ensemble inédit de manifestations pariétales situées sur le Panneau Principal de la grotte de Tito Bustillo. Les travaux de documentation ont permis de révéler l’existence de nombreuses gravures, peintures et dessins représentant certains des thèmes les plus fréquents de l’art cantabrique (notamment biche, cheval, aurochs ou signes), ainsi que d’autres beaucoup plus exceptionnels (ours, félin ou figure féminine). L’analyse de la stratigraphie pariétale, combinée à la contextualisation de leurs caractéristiques formelles, a permis d’identifier une séquence graphique complexe et étendue qui contribue à esquisser certains des mécanismes de construction graphique récurrents ayant participé à la construction continue du Panneau Principal pendant plus de vingt mille ans. (…)

Aggiornamento 29/03/2026

Rock Art uranium-thorium and radiocarbon cross-dating at Altamira cave, Spain, di E. Pons-Branchu et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 379, 1 may 2026, 109900 - open access -

For the first time, systematic coupling of 230Th/234U and 14C dating methods was performed on secondary carbonate thin layers covering or underlying rock art from Altamira cave, Spain. Analyses were performed on the same carbonate samples weighing only a few milligrams, in order to compare the dates obtained on the same fraction by the two methods. Depending on the location of the carbonate samples above or under the representations, minimum or maximum ages were respectively obtained. This intercomparison was undertaken as previous results showed that 230Th/234U ages obtained on calcitic parietal deposits in other caves were in some cases older than the 14C ages obtained on the same samples. This was confirmed in the present study, where we furthermore found that the oldest 230Th/234U ages were those of the samples with the lowest uranium content, suggesting that uranium loss is the mechanism responsible for age bias. (…)

Sex determination in fossil hominin remains is often challenging due to the fragmentary nature of the record and the limitations of morphological assessments. In this study, we apply a proteomic approach to assess the sex of an upper second molar (RV’23-350) from the Middle Pleistocene site of Ruidera (Spain). By analyzing the presence of amelogenin, a key enamel protein encoded by genes on both the X and Y chromosomes, we provide molecular evidence supporting the classification of this fossil as belonging to a male individual. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first application of amelogenin-based sex estimation in European Middle Pleistocene hominin teeth. (…)

We present early Pleistocene burial ages of the ‘Ubeidiya Formation sediments in the Jordan Valley, a segment of the Dead Sea Rift Valley. A minimum age of ~1.1 Ma is constrained both by paleomagnetic analysis and U-Pb dating of Melanopsis shells. Simple cosmogenic burial ages (i.e., one very long exposure period followed by one period of burial) calculated from the ratios of 26Al to 10Be and 10Be concentrations indicate ages of ~3 Ma, contradicting the geological and paleomagnetic constraints as well as a reasonable age of the ‘Ubeidiya archeological site, as it contains human remains. A more sophisticated way of treating the results, by combining numerical modeling of cosmogenic nuclide build up during repeated burial-exposure cycles, paleomagnetic analysis (indicating reverse polarity) and a minimum burial age of 1.1 Ma set by U-Pb dating of Melanopsis shells, suggests two most probable time slots (1.19-1.77 and 1.93- 2.14 Ma) for the absolute age of the ‘Ubeidiya Formation. (...)

Wind(ow) of change: The end of the Middle Stone Age and the beginning of the Later Stone Age at Umhlatuzana rockshelter showcasing concurrent technological and techno-economic shifts, di  V. C. Schmid, I. Sifogeorgaki, T. Abruzzese, S. Blik, L. Huang, G. L. Dusseldorp, "Quaternary Science Reviews" volume 377, 1 april 2026, 109806 - open access -

The site of Umhlatuzana rockshelter contains a key sequence documenting developments in human behaviour from ∼70 ka throughout the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Re-excavation of the site yielded high-resolution lithic assemblages that clarify the character of the end of the Middle Stone Age and the beginning of the Later Stone Age at the site. We performed a technological analysis of this lithic material across the transition from Middle to Later Stone Age. We show that this transition took place more rapidly than previously assumed. The change from the Middle to Later Stone Age is characterized by concomitant shifts in raw material provisioning, reduction strategies and tool corpus. (...)

The evolution of the cave's entrance of Bruniquel and consequences for its accessibility by early Homo neanderthalensis, di K. Génuite et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 377, 1 april 2026, 109866 - open access -

The cave of Bruniquel, discovered by cavers in 1990, contains the oldest evidence of deep cave use by early Homo neanderthalensis. The discovery and dating of speleothem-based structures and fireplaces demonstrated their ability to investigate the deep subterranean environment in a structured way (Jaubert et al., 2016). The cave has been closed by a succession of rockfalls, flowstone layers and scree cone deposits, which led to the preservation of multiple traces of human and animal activity inside the cave. We studied the cave entrance evolution through a multidisciplinary integrated geomorphological approach, combining 3D surveys inside and outside the cave system, high-resolution geomorphological mapping, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), and U-series dating. (…)

A stable environmental niche for humans in the southern Levant 70–40 ka, di M. Abbas et alii, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 377, 1 april 2026, 109855

Environmental drivers were likely key to human dispersals from Africa into and throughout Eurasia, but the effect of such drivers on human biogeography has yet to be resolved at high-resolution on a regional scale. Here, we probe the Levantine-Arabian region for environments favourable to human forager groups around 50 ka when a demographic wave surged across Eurasia imprinting the ancestry of all non-Africans living today. We present a set of 33 optically stimulated luminescence dates demonstrating more than 50,000-years of persistent riverine wetlands on the eastern margin of the Jordan Rift Valley at Hamra Faddan and Wadi al-Hasa—the latter hosting stratified Middle Palaeolithic artefacts indicative of frequent human presence. (…)

The heavy connection: Decline in heavy-duty tools correlates with megaherbivore disappearance in the Paleolithic Levant, di V. Litov, M. Ben-Dor, R. Barkai, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 377, 1 april 2026, 109872 - open access -

Early Paleolithic (ca. 2-0.2 mya) lithic assemblages are marked by the recurrent presence of diagnostic heavy-duty tool classes, namely, handaxes, chopping tools, cleavers, core/massive scrapers and shaped stone balls. In the Levant, heavy-duty technologies disappear almost entirely after the Lower-Middle Paleolithic transition, which coincides with major developments in novel light-duty toolkits and technological innovations. In this study, we sought a possible connection between these significant changes in lithic technologies and local animal taxa availability fluctuations. The results indicate that departure from heavy-duty technologies co-occurred with a significant drop in the relative abundance, NISP distribution, and contribution to biomass of megaherbivores (>1000 kg) after the Lower Paleolithic. (…)

Spatial resilience and population replacement in Europe during MIS 3: a comparative study of Neanderthals and H. sapiens, di A. Burke, E. Pomeroy, T. Poisot, B. Albouy, S. Paquin, "Quaternary Science Reviews", volume 377, 1 april 2026, 109850 - open access -

Homo sapiens dispersed out of Africa several times during the Late Pleistocene. The most recent dispersal event, which began around 60,000 years ago, resulted in the permanent establishment of Sapiens populations in Europe, followed by the disappearance of Neanderthals from the archaeological record. Various hypotheses suggest that the process of population replacement in Europe was influenced by climate change, habitat dynamics, demographic processes, and/or competitive exclusion. To test these hypotheses, we use habitat suitability modeling and GIS tools to predict the optimal distribution of Neanderthal and Aurignacian populations in Europe during stadial and interstadial events of Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3) and reconstruct their regional networks. (…)

The Late Mesolithic juveniles of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, Russia: New insights from mortuary data, di O. Batanina, V. Moiseyev, E. Murphy, N. Stewart, A. Zubova, K. Mannermaa, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 4, april 2026, article number 84 - open access -

Juveniles remain a largely underexplored socio-biological category in Mesolithic mortuary research, despite their potential to shed light on social values and community dynamics. The burial site at Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov (YOO), Karelia, Russia, the largest known Mesolithic burial site in Northeastern Europe, provides a unique opportunity to explore the mortuary treatment of children and adolescents. This study uses osteoarchaeological methods in addition to enamel peptide analysis for the determination of biological sex to investigate how juveniles were perceived at different life stages and the role that biological sex may have played in these perceptions. (…)

Biomass tar, Podocarpus leaves and the diversity of southern African Stone Age adhesives – new data from Elands Bay Cave, di P. Schmidt, A. Charrié-Duhaut, E. February, J. Parkington, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 4, april 2026, article number 82 - open access -

Adhesives are among the most informative archaeological artefacts for understanding the behaviour of Stone Age forages. In the southern African Middle and Later Stone Age, the botanical origin of most adhesives was identified as conifers of the genus Podocarpus. One of these identifications of Podocarpus adhesives comes from Elands Bay Cave. However, it has recently been shown that similar adhesives can be, and were, produced from many plants available on the southern African subcontinent, opening important questions about the role of Podocarpus within these plants. Here, we re-investigate the Elands Bay Cave adhesive record and compare it to natural and experimentally produced adhesive substances, using infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. (…)

New insights into a Solutrean innovation. Understanding technological behaviour and socio-economic organization of Upper Palaeolithic groups through lithic heat treatment studies and experiments, di J. Bachellerie, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 4, april 2026, article number 79

During the Recent Solutrean (Middle and Upper phases), chert heat treatment in southwestern France reflects a significant yet unevenly applied technical innovation within Upper Palaeolithic societies. A combined analysis of macroscopic traces, experimental replication, and techno-economic data from over twenty lithic assemblages reveals that heat treatment was primarily associated with the production of laurel-leaf points and applied selectively to specific chert types, i.e. Tertiary lacustrine varieties. While heating improved knapping efficiency – particularly for pressure flaking and bifacial thinning – its rare and context-specific occurrence suggests a high-cost process integrated into a complex chaîne opératoire. (…)

New insights into Neanderthal subsistence strategies in northern Iberia: The faunal assemblage of level XXc of El Castillo Cave (Cantabria, Spain), di N. Abellán-Beltrán, J. Marín-Hernando, F. Bernaldo de Quirós, A. Mingo-Alvarez, "Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences", volume 18, issue 4, april 2026, article number 78 - open access -

The study of Neanderthal subsistence in northern Iberia through zooarchaeological analysis of faunal assemblages is a pivotal issue for the comprehension of the population dynamics of this human species. In this regard, El Castillo Cave has been an essential site for research on Middle Palaeolithic settlements in the Cantabrian region. From this perspective, the Mousterian level XXc of El Castillo provides relevant information for the comprehension of Neanderthal behaviour, subsistence strategies and human-carnivore interactions. Through the study of the faunal assemblage of this level, we establish the hunting spectrum of Neanderthal groups, identifying different strategies depending on the species, with a specific selection of prime adult individuals for red deer and an unselective strategy for large bovids and horses, with transport strategies focused on limb bones. (…)

The La Ferrassie site, a reference locality for Neandertal paleobiology and Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition, has yielded numerous hominin remains over more than a century of excavations. Among them, the La Ferrassie 1 (LF1) skeleton, discovered in 1909, is one of the most complete individuals attributed to Homo neanderthalensis. Nevertheless, its precise stratigraphic context and chronological attribution remain uncertain due to outdated excavation methods and sparse archival documentation. In this study, we integrate archival research, paleoproteomics, and radiocarbon dating to reassess the age and depositional context of LF1. We examined 64 faunal bone fragments stored with LF1 at the Musée de l’Homme, Paris, selecting six for radiocarbon dating after taxonomic identification via paleoproteomics. (…)

This study investigates Acheulean industrial variability through the lens of lithic raw material provisioning. It harnesses macroscopic and microscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to identify and characterize the raw materials used to knap artefacts excavated from Rodafnidia, a Lower Palaeolithic site on central-south Lesvos Island, Greece, and surface artefacts collected from Rodafnidia and two adjacent findspots, Glyfias and Bi Tsesme in the southeast rim of the Kalloni Gulf. The study employs geological surveying to map primary and secondary local sources of the knappable rocks present in the assemblages under investigation, and examines patterns of procurement, use and management. (…)

The Aurignacian technocomplex of the Early Upper Palaeolithic remains a long-standing focal point for understanding the expansion of modern humans across Europe. Diagnostic assemblages occur across vast swathes of the continent, suggesting the existence of broadly connected groups and traditions around 43–32 ka cal BP. However, while its extensive distribution is often regarded as proxy evidence for the spread of modern human groups, artefact assemblages are known to be synchronically and diachronically variable in ways that reveal an inconsistent representation of diagnostic traits. In the Iberian Peninsula, this variability is exemplified by an idiosyncratic material record in which diverse Aurignacian assemblages occur alongside undiagnostic or ‘culturally indeterminate’ ones, leading many Aurignacian occupations to be disputed. In this paper, we assimilate this regional record through quantitative analyses of techno-typological attributes from all sufficiently published and chronologically relevant assemblages of the Early Upper Palaeolithic. (…)

Along the flow resources in aquatic ecosystems during prehistory and protohistory, Genova 24-25 Marzo 2026, “Incontri Annuali di Preistoria e Protostoria” n. 14

The use of Nassariidea shells as personal ornaments is attested to an increasing number of Middle Stone Age (MSA) archaeological sites in northern and southern Africa. The chronological extent of this behavior is constantly moving back in time; currently, the oldest evidence has been identified at the Bizmoune cave site in Morocco back to the MIS 6. Although these evidences make it possible to refine the spatial and temporal distribution of this behavior, shell beads remain rare in Middle Stone Age assemblages and are generally composed of several beads, or at best dozens, for each of these sites. This restricts our understanding of the behaviors specifically related to the collection, selection and preparation phases of shells, and potentially limits our understanding of their use. In this article, we studied shell beads from MSA layer US 8 from the coastal archaeological site of El Mnasra Cave (Rabat-Témara, Morocco). (…)

We present a genome sequenced to ~37-fold genomic coverage from an approximately 110,000-y-old male Neandertal from Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains and analyze it together with previously published Neandertal genomes of high quality. We show that he belonged to a population more closely related to a ~120,000-y-old Neandertal from Denisova Cave than to Neandertals in Europe or to a ~80,000-y-old Neandertal from Chagyrskaya Cave in the Altai Mountains. Both Neandertals from Denisova Cave show evidence of gene flow from Denisovans, a pattern not seen in later Neandertals from the Altai region or from Western Europe. The extent of chromosomal regions of homozygosity in Neandertals from the Altai region between 120,000 and 80,000 y ago indicates that they lived in smaller and more isolated groups than later Neandertals in Europe (54,000 to 40,000 y ago). (…)

Levallois technology is a particularly skilful and cognitively intensive lithic technology where preparatory core shaping is aimed at producing predetermined flake blanks. It has significant implications for hominin evolution and dispersals, yet remains notoriously difficult to define relative to other prepared cores. Significant variability in prepared core techno-morphology is often rendered into a handful of rarely agreed upon discrete categories. We ask whether existing classifications of cores are immutable, discrete groups, or whether there are unbroken continua of prepared core variability. With a bespoke set of 3D computational methods, we directly quantify the criteria used to define Levallois technology. Applied to a diverse sample of prepared cores from five African MSA sites, these methods establish continua of prepared core preparation, recurrence and exhaustion.(…)

The Late Gravettian Moravany-Podkovica site is famous for the discovery of the female figurine known as the Venus of Moravany in the 1920–1930s. The site from which it is thought to have originated is located in the prehistoric settlement area of Moravany nad Váhom in western Slovakia. The eastern slopes of the village of Moravany, located in the heart of a micro-region with favourable climatic conditions created by local geothermal springs, have yielded more than a dozen open-air sites, found on the surface or within loessic deposits, and dating from the Szeletian, Gravettian and Epigravettian periods. The rediscovery of old excavation archives and recent work on reorganising and studying the available collections have informed our planning of renewed excavations at Podkovica. (…)

Birch tar is well-documented for its use as an adhesive in the Middle Palaeolithic of Europe, but other uses remain poorly explored. Drawing from recent arguments suggesting multimodal uses of products such as ochre and birch tar, this study tests the antibiotic properties of birch tar produced experimentally with methods reconstructed from Middle Palaeolithic birch tar finds from Europe. Made from the bark of Betula pendula and Betula pubescens, widely documented for the European Late Pleistocene, we produced birch tar samples using an underground pit method, a condensation method, and a modern tin can method. The birch tar samples were tested for antibiotic properties using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion antibiotic assay. The resulting inhibition zones, ranging from no effect to 10.5 ± 0.7 mm with a mean of 7.5 ± 0.17 mm, indicate a moderate effect against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium widely known for its role in wound infections. We further establish that the efficacy of antibiotic properties is not related to the production method, with all methods showing a degree of variation. (…)

During the 2019–2022 fieldwork in the Hučivá diera Cave in the Slovak part of the Tatras, the settlement of the Magdalenian community was identified. The analysis of the obtained materials significantly expanded data collection on the eastern province of this culture in Central-Eastern Europe. Multiple analytical techniques have been used to describe the cultural and ecological background of that site. The discovery of the Hučivá diera Cave led to the conclusion that, at the end of the Pleistocene, during the Bölling warming, the Magdalenian hunters adapted quickly to the changing habitat and were able to inhabit this cave and recognise the advantages of that site, which included possibilities to hunt Alpine ibex and process the skins of hunted animals. (…)

- Corrigendum to “High mountains, Late Palaeolithic hunting. The case of Hučivá Diera Cave in the Tatra Mts. (West Carpathians)” [Quaternary International 758 (2026) 15 (2026) 110151], 30 March 2026

While Oldowan technology cannot be divorced from its ecological contexts, examining its socio-cultural scaffolding remains an important endeavor for developing a holistic perspective towards its evolutionary significance. Methods from the chaîne opératoire and techno-functional approaches have been adapted and applied to various Earlier Stone Age or Early Paleolithic assemblages to understand their cognitive and technical implications. However, in South Africa, Oldowan collections have yet to benefit from these approaches, which we employ here. This paper applies a techno-functional (also called ‘morpho-structural’) and chaîne opératoire approach to examine cores and retouched pieces from Swartkrans Member 1 Lower Bank (SWT-M1LB) and Sterkfontein Member 5 East (STK-M5E). (…)

Paleolithic parietal art in the Dordogne, Southwestern France, was known to present representations solely made with mineral coloring matters. We found a significant number of carbon black-based figures in the galleries of the Font-de-Gaume cave in Les Eyzies, Dordogne, Southern France [I. Reiche, Y. Coquinot, A. Trosseau, A. Maigret, Sci. Rep. 13, 22235 (2023)]. Further reflectance imaging spectroscopy allowed a precise noninvasive discrimination between manganese- and carbon-based blacks. Consequently, in the Dordogne region, direct dating of drawn or painted lines was unlocked. Dating parietal representations can prove challenging because of the small amount of matter and the possible contaminations by other carbon sources. (…)

Prepared core technology is a defining feature of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) in Africa, yet classic preferential Levallois cores are rare in many southern African assemblages. The recent identification of Nubian Levallois cores – a well-defined prepared core strategy – at sites in the South African interior raises broader questions about how current terminologies may be shaping interpretations of Levallois in southern Africa. The open-air site of Tweefontein presents a large Nubian core assemblage together with a range of other prepared core forms, providing a unique opportunity to assess how Nubian cores fit within the broader spectrum of prepared core variability. (…)

As humans, we store and share information. This allows us to distribute knowledge necessary for survival and to coordinate large groups. Our hominin ancestors harnessed the surfaces of mobile artifacts and cave walls as information carriers since the Paleolithic time period. Theories abound as to the meaning and function of these Paleolithic signs. However, very little is known about their basic, measurable properties. We here analyze a corpus of more than 200 mobile objects of a 43,000 to 34,000 y old Aurignacian culture—associated with the first modern humans to settle in Central Europe. These objects are adorned with several thousand geometric signs. We apply classification algorithms and statistical models to capture their quantitative properties. First, our analyses illustrate that these sign sequences are clearly distinguishable from modern day writing. Second, however, their statistical properties are comparable to sign sequences on the earliest protocuneiform tablets. (…)

Le visage de l’australoithèque « Little Foot» reconstitué pour la première fois « Little Foot » est le fossile d’Australopithèque le plus complet jamais découvert. Grâce à lui, les chercheurs peuvent se faire une idée de l’apparence de ce groupe d’hominidés anciens. (…)

The engraved parietal art of Creswell Crags, discovered in 2003, remains the only example of Palaeolithic cave art in the U.K. and represents the northernmost signature of Upper Palaeolithic artistic behaviour. Despite its unique nature and significant advances in digital techniques used to evaluate parietal art, it has received limited academic attention in the past two decades since its discovery. We utilized a suite of digital modelling techniques (high-resolution photography, close-range photogrammetry, Reflectance Transformation Imaging) to reassess the art. (…)

Once thought to signal the emergence of 'modern human behavior’ in the archaeological record, recent research in parts of Africa, Eurasia, and Oceania has pushed back the timeline of when bone tool technology is thought to have originated and highlighted the sophistication of this ancient and global technology. From the unworked implements used by African hominins to gather subterranean foods, to the simple pointed tools that facilitated long-distance migration of peoples into colder climates, to the sophisticated use of bone by archaic and modern humans as a canvas to express appreciation of form and harness sound—the literature on this topic is expanding every year as discoveries from new excavations and long-curated collections are reported. Seldom, however, do we find in the literature a comprehensive perspective of the sheer diversity of functions to which bone was put in the Stone Age (and synonymous Paleolithic or Pleistocene) period. (…)

Textual analysis of 425 cases of endurance pursuit hunts (EPHs) found in ethnohistoric and ethnographic sources reveals the diversity, extent, and effectiveness of the endurance pursuit tactic. Endurance pursuits involve persistently running after an encountered animal, often for hours, until it can be subdued, the tactic frequently involving bouts of walking and tracking. Building on this definition, we assess the plausibility of five hypotheses that could account for the evolution of endurance pursuit strategies in hominins: i) optimization of subsistence efficiency, ii) risk minimization, iii) honest signaling of hunting prowess, iv) acquisition of alternative resources such as skin or fat, and v) procurement of game for spiritual reasons. Our test of these hypotheses also aids in delineating the contexts and factors that affect the success of EPHs. Crusted snow or high ambient temperatures favor the technique. (…)

Located in the northernmost part of Central Asia, the western foothills of the Altai Mountains (Western Siberia) represent to date the easternmost known boundary of Neanderthal distribution, far from their main cultural areas currently known in Western Eurasia. This geographic situation suggests the possibility of distinct cultural and biological traits in Altai Neanderthals. In this region, Chagyrskaya Cave contains the most substantial paleoanthropological collection, with 75 remains, including 20 craniodental elements attributed to at least eight individuals of varying ages (22 permanent teeth and four deciduous teeth), dating to between approximately 59 and 51 ka BP. Previous paleogenetic analyses suggest several individuals from this site are closely related. Our study is the first to comprehensively analyze the morphology of the entire set of dentognathic elements. (…)

Sex biases in admixture and other demographic processes are recurrent features throughout human evolution. For admixture between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans (AMHs), sex bias has been proposed as an explanation for the relative lack of Neanderthal ancestry in modern human X chromosomes compared with that in modern human autosomes. By observing a 62% relative excess of AMH ancestry in Neanderthal X chromosomes, we characterized the interbreeding between the two groups as predominantly male Neanderthals with female AMHs. (…)